The rental arrears grant program FHEPS, provided by the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA), can assist renters facing eviction before their landlords initiate legal proceedings with the housing court.
FHEPS can pay ongoing rent (as well as retroactive rent) for families with children receiving cash assistance and facing eviction. Learn about action steps and documents to gather at legalaidnyc.org/get-help/housing-problems/what-you-need-to-know-about-hras-family-homelessness-eviction-prevention-supplement.
Obtain additional information about the FHEPS rent supplement program at nyc.gov/site/hra/help/fheps.
The One-Shot Deal is an emergency aid program intended to meet the immediate needs of low-income New Yorkers. This aid can be utilized to address a variety of scenarios, including rental assistance to prevent or postpone an eviction.
You need not be a recipient of public assistance to get an offer. Remember that most one-shot deals will have to be repaid over time with regular monthly payments.
Check out the program information at access.nyc.gov/programs/one-shot-deal. If the program could fit your needs, apply at access.nyc.gov. In addition, on the second page of this handout, check the documents you need to submit with your application. After all documents have been submitted, a ruling may take 30–45 days, depending on the case’s urgency. Access the HRA website at access.nyc.gov or call the HRA InfoLine at (718) 557-1399 to know if your case has been decided.
Free legal services under the Right-to-Counsel program are made available to residents of New York in any ZIP code, regardless of their immigration status. In the five boroughs, organizations offer free legal representation or guidance to tenants facing administrative eviction from the New York City Housing Authority or the Housing Court. Call 311 and ask for the “Tenant Helpline”. Learn more at https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/legal-services-for-tenants.page.
Housing options for low-income renters and homeowners are available through the New York City Housing Lottery, NYC Connect. Sign up at housingconnect.nyc.gov to get on the waiting list for any developments that interest you. Learn about the application process visiting the link housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/about-us.
Find affordable and accessible homes and apartments across New York State at www.nyhousingsearch.gov. In the application process, your credit score may be requested.
Action steps:
1. Contact your super and/or landlord about the needed repair, either directly or with the management company.
2. If your superintendent or building management company is not responsive, write a letter to the owner of the building. For assistance with writing a letter to your landlord, please visit justfix.org. If not, refer to the template provided below.
Template Letter
Date
Landlord Name
Landlord Address
Landlord City, State and ZIP Code
Re: Address of the Property
Dear [Landlord’s Name]
On [date], the [short description of the problem]. I notified you of the problem by phone on [date]. You informed me [resolution suggested by the landlord].
Please consider this letter as a follow-up to my initial telephone call informing you of the problem and a confirmation of your promise to remedy the situation by [date].
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
3. If the problem is still not fixed, file a complaint with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) by calling 3-1-1. Follow up your case online at
hpdonline.hpdnyc.org/HPDonline/provide_address
4. If maintenance problems are severe, consider filing an HP Action in Housing Court. Learn how at nycourts.gov/courts/nyc/housing/startinghp.shtml.
If your apartment is rent-stabilized and the problem is not fixed, file a complaint about maintenance issues online with NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) at rent.hcr.ny.gov/RentConnect/Tenant/DecreasedServicesOverview.
1. If you live in a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property, call the NYCHA Customer Contact Center Report at 718-707-7771 or create a maintenance ticket at my.nycha.info/MyNYCHA.
Have in hand the following information before your call
► Your name, address, telephone number, and the name of your development
► The location of the emergency (if it applies): apartment, lobby, hallway, stairwell, etc.
► The floors affected
► When and how the problem began
► Previous work ticket number (if applicable)
2. If your superintendent or building management company is not responsive, consider asking your doctor for a letter of advocacy. Your doctor can find useful templates at nyscheck.org/clinician_letters.
3. If maintenance problems are severe, consider obtaining services from a non-profit legal organization to get repairs done. For example, Legal Services NYC offer free services to the community at legalservicesnyc.org. You can also call 311 and ask for the “Tenant Helpline”.
Learn more at nyc/gov/hpd.
Updated on March 14, 2024