HUGSLinks Housing Help

Find housing. Keep housing.

Understand housing programs, affordable-housing opportunities, rental assistance, apartment searches, housing rights and important government housing changes in one organized place.

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HUGSLinks Housing Help

Welcome to our HUGS Help Housing Navigation Page.

Housing systems can be difficult to navigate. HUGSLinks organizes major housing programs, apartment-search options, document preparation, official resources and changing government information so you can understand your next steps more clearly.

Find housing programs CityFHEPS, Homebase, Housing Connect, NYCHA and other assistance. Prepare your documents Know which records may help with applications and appointments. Build your housing plan Track your own housing-navigation steps on your device. See what changed HUGS Housing Watch checks important official housing sources.

Housing Assistance & Affordable Housing

Start with the program that most closely matches your situation.

Rental Assistance

CityFHEPS

Rental assistance for eligible individuals and families seeking to find or maintain housing.

  • May assist with ongoing rent
  • Used by eligible households searching for apartments
  • Program rules and documentation apply
Official CityFHEPS Information →
Prevention

Homebase

Housing-stability services for eligible New Yorkers at risk of entering shelter.

  • Eviction prevention
  • Housing stabilization
  • Benefits assistance
  • Relocation support
Find Homebase →
Affordable Housing

NYC Housing Connect

Search and apply for affordable rental and homeownership opportunities.

  • Affordable-housing lotteries
  • Re-rentals
  • Homeownership opportunities
  • Household and income requirements
Open Housing Connect →
Public Housing

NYCHA

Public-housing applications, applicant information and NYCHA housing resources.

ApplyNYCHA →
Voucher Program

Section 8

Housing Choice Voucher assistance for qualifying households.

  • Voucher-based assistance
  • Applicant status tools
  • Waitlist conditions can change
Section 8 Information →
Affordable Housing

Mitchell-Lama

Affordable rental and cooperative housing for eligible moderate- and middle-income households.

Mitchell-Lama Information →
Emergency Assistance

Emergency Rent Help

Some households experiencing serious financial hardship may qualify for emergency assistance.

Emergency Assistance →
Housing Rights

Housing Legal Help

Legal services may be available to qualifying New Yorkers facing eviction or housing-related problems.

Legal Services →

A Simple Housing Navigation Path

Work through your housing situation one step at a time instead of trying to navigate every program at once.

1
Identify your situation

Are you in shelter, facing eviction, searching for affordable housing or already using rental assistance?

2
Check assistance programs

Determine which programs may fit your household and circumstances.

3
Prepare documents

Keep identification, income, benefits and housing records organized.

4
Apply and track everything

Save confirmations, screenshots, emails and documents you submit.

Your Personal Housing Plan

Keep track of your next steps.

Check items as you complete them. Progress remains stored in this browser on this device.

0 of 6 steps completed
Document Preparation

Keep important housing records ready.

Requirements vary by program, but having an organized housing folder can save time.

Photo ID
Income records
Benefits notices
Household records
Shelter records
Voucher documents
Lease information
Accommodation records
HUGS Navigation Tip

Create a housing evidence folder.

Keep copies of applications, screenshots, upload confirmations, emails, appointment notices, eligibility letters and names of people you spoke with.

When housing processes take weeks or months, maintaining your own record makes follow-up much easier.

Apartment Search

Searching for housing with assistance

Finding a listing is only part of the process. Before paying money or submitting sensitive information, verify the listing, landlord or broker and understand any subsidy approval or inspection requirements.

1. Know your housing budget Understand the rent level your household or subsidy may support.
2. Verify the listing Confirm the apartment and the person offering it are legitimate.
3. Prepare documents Keep digital and paper copies of important paperwork.
4. Confirm approval Assisted apartments may require program review or inspection.
HUGS Housing Watch

Watch important housing sources for change.

HUGS Housing Watch checks selected official housing and government sources when this page requests updated information. If an official source changes after your previous visit, HUGSLinks can flag it for you to review.

Official Source Watch
— Official sources monitored
— Sources checked successfully
— Changed since your last visit
Checking official housing sources…
Loading official housing information…
HUGS Housing Explainer

What does this mean for me?

Government housing information can be difficult to understand. Use these plain-language starting points to identify what may be relevant to your situation and what to verify next.

CityFHEPS

Rental assistance may expand your housing options.

What matters

CityFHEPS rules, rent levels, eligibility and housing-search procedures can change.

What this may mean for you

If you have CityFHEPS or are being evaluated for it, keep your household and program information current.

Next step

Confirm your current program status, household size and approved rental information before committing to a unit.

Housing Connect

One development may not determine every opportunity.

What matters

Affordable developments can have different household and income requirements.

What this may mean for you

You may qualify for one development even if another does not match your household.

Next step

Keep your Housing Connect profile updated and continue reviewing matching opportunities.

Section 8

A waitlist change may affect different applicants differently.

What matters

Waiting lists, existing applications and voucher issuance can have different rules.

What this may mean for you

If you already applied, continue checking official application information rather than assuming your case ended.

Next step

Keep your address, phone number, email and household information current.

Housing Stability

Help may be available before homelessness occurs.

What matters

Housing-prevention programs exist for some households facing instability.

What this may mean for you

Falling behind on rent or receiving eviction papers may be a reason to seek prevention assistance early.

Next step

Gather your lease, rent records, court papers, income information and benefits documentation.

Supportive Housing

Some households may qualify for housing with support services.

What matters

Supportive housing generally involves eligibility assessment and provider participation.

What this may mean for you

Certain disability, health, homelessness or support circumstances may make this pathway worth exploring.

Next step

Ask an appropriate provider or case manager whether supportive housing assessment may be appropriate.

Housing Rights

Rental assistance should not automatically end your apartment search.

What matters

Housing protections may apply to lawful sources of income, including qualifying subsidies.

What this may mean for you

A refusal based specifically on lawful rental assistance may raise a housing-rights issue.

Next step

Save advertisements, messages, broker information and other records if you believe discrimination occurred.

Why HUGSLinks Housing Navigation?

More than another list of links.

Plain-language navigation

Programs are organized around the visitor's situation rather than only by agency.

Housing Watch

Selected official sources can be checked for new material and page changes.

Personal progress tracking

Visitors can track their own housing steps without creating an account.

Apartment-search preparation

Affordable housing, subsidies and practical apartment-search steps appear together.

Document organization

Visitors are encouraged to maintain their own housing records and evidence.

Dignity-centered help

HUGSLinks focuses on clarity, dignity and useful next steps.

HUGSLinks is an independent community resource-navigation platform and is not a government agency, law firm or housing provider. Housing Watch detects information and page changes from selected public sources but does not determine whether every detected change represents a policy change. Housing programs, eligibility rules, funding and apartment availability can change. Always confirm important requirements with the responsible government agency, housing provider or qualified professional.