On Monday, May 20th, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) will begin accepting applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program for the first time in nearly 15 years. The program, which provides rental subsidies for eligible low-income families to rent housing in the private market, will open its waitlist from June 3 through June 9, 2024. This initiative fulfills a commitment made by Mayor Adams in his 2024 State of the City Address and aims to contribute to the city’s goal of creating 500,000 new homes by 2032.
Mayor Adams emphasized the significance of this reopening, stating, “After 15 years, we are reopening NYCHA’s doors to hundreds of thousands of new Section 8 applicants and helping more New Yorkers find the housing they need. Addressing our city’s housing crisis means using every tool our city has, and that’s exactly what we are doing.”
Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer highlighted the significance of reopening the waitlist, saying, “Reopening the Section 8 waitlist is a milestone in our ongoing efforts to address our housing crisis. Making this critical subsidy available to more New Yorkers for the first time in 15 years exemplifies NYCHA’s commitment to improving the lives of tenants.”
NYCHA, the largest Section 8 program administrator in the country, currently provides rental subsidies to over 241,000 residents. The reopening of the waitlist follows a 15-year hiatus since it was closed on December 10, 2009. Applicants will be randomly selected by lottery to join the waitlist, ensuring equal opportunity for all.
United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also supported the initiative, stating, “I applaud Mayor Adams for opening up access to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, a cornerstone of affordable housing. I am proud to have led the charge to protect the program so that more New Yorkers have access to safe and affordable housing opportunities.”
Over the past two years, Mayor Adams has made significant investments in public housing, including converting more than 5,200 units to Section 8 through the permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program and securing $1.8 billion for capital repairs. The Adams administration has also been proactive in cutting red tape and accelerating housing delivery through initiatives like the “Green Fast Track for Housing” and the “Office Conversion Accelerator.”
Mayor Adams’ continued efforts to improve housing affordability in New York City reflect a broader commitment to support working-class New Yorkers and address the housing crisis comprehensively. The reopening of the Section 8 waitlist is a pivotal step towards achieving these goals.
