HASA housing voucher: how it works and how to apply

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is a HASA housing voucher?

HASA, the HIV/AIDS Services Administration, is a division of the New York City Department of Social Services. It pays a package of benefits to New Yorkers living with HIV or AIDS who meet income and residency rules. The housing piece is a rent supplement, sometimes called a HASA housing subsidy or HASA voucher, that covers part or all of a client's rent depending on income and the unit's cost.^[1]

This is not a federal Housing Choice Voucher. Federal vouchers run through local housing authorities under HUD's Section 8 rules, they move with you across the country, and they are governed by 24 CFR Part 982.^[2] HASA's subsidy is a New York City program paid for with a mix of city, state, and federal money, run by HASA caseworkers, and wired into the city's public assistance system.

The difference matters. A federal voucher stays with you if you move to another state. A HASA subsidy stops the day you leave New York City. The two can overlap in rare cases (a HASA client might also hold a federal voucher), but they are separate applications on separate eligibility tracks.

HASA reports serving roughly 36,000 clients across the city at any given time.^[1] It is one of the largest local AIDS housing programs in the country.

Who is eligible for HASA housing assistance?

Three hard requirements. You need a confirmed HIV or AIDS diagnosis documented by a medical provider, a New York City address, and income at or below the program limit, which for most applicants means 200 percent of the federal poverty level (the exact cutoff shifts with the annual poverty guidelines).^[3]

Citizenship is not one of the requirements. HASA serves people regardless of immigration status, including undocumented New Yorkers. New York State Social Services Law Section 131-o establishes that access.^[4]

HASA housing is meant for people whose HIV or AIDS creates a housing need. In practice that means you usually have to show the illness affects your ability to keep stable housing, through medical costs, disability, or lost income. If you are HIV-positive but stably housed and paying your own way, you might still qualify for other HASA services like medical case management without getting a housing subsidy.

Single adults, couples, and families with children all qualify. The benefit amount changes with household size: a single adult gets a supplement up to the city's HASA maximum shelter allowance, and families get more.^[3]

How does the HASA housing subsidy actually work?

Once you're approved, HASA pays a rent supplement straight to your landlord every month. The amount is the gap between your countable income (usually a share of your public assistance or SSI/SSDI) and the approved rent on your unit. The city sets a maximum shelter allowance by household size, and your rent has to land at or below that ceiling to qualify.^[3]

HASA keeps a list of approved housing providers. That includes single room occupancy buildings (SROs), scatter-site apartments, and supportive housing. You can find your own place in the private market, but the unit and the landlord have to clear a HASA approval process that includes a lease review and sometimes an inspection.

Supportive housing is a common route. These are buildings where HASA holds a contract with a nonprofit, so tenants get an apartment plus on-site case management, medical referrals, and social services. Placement tends to move faster than a private-market search because the units are set aside for HASA clients.

Landlords get paid directly by the city, which a lot of them like. If you're a landlord thinking about renting to HASA clients, the setup looks a lot like accepting a housing choice voucher: a city agency pays a predictable share of rent each month. The differences show up in the contract terms, the approval steps, and the caseworker who may stay involved in the tenancy.

How do I apply for a HASA housing voucher?

You apply to HASA as a whole, not to a housing office. Housing benefits come as part of the package once you're found eligible.

Here is how it runs, step by step:

1. Contact HASA directly. The main intake number is 212-971-0626. You can also walk into a borough office.^[5] HASA has offices in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

2. Do the intake interview. A worker reviews your diagnosis, income, housing status, and household. Bring your ID, proof of diagnosis (a doctor's or clinic letter is standard), proof of income, and any lease or eviction notice you have.

3. Provide medical documentation. HASA needs a medical form signed by a licensed provider confirming your diagnosis and, in some cases, your functional limits. Your HIV clinic, community health center, or private doctor can fill it out.

4. Get your eligibility determination. HASA decides whether you qualify and what benefits you're approved for. If housing is included, a caseworker helps you find a unit or get placed in supportive housing.

5. Find a unit or accept a placement. Going scatter-site (your own apartment)? Your caseworker helps you search and submits the unit for approval. Going supportive housing? Your name goes on a referral list.

The wait between approval and actual placement varies. Supportive housing can take weeks to several months depending on vacancy. Private-market placement depends on how fast you find a landlord who'll work with HASA's process.

Already enrolled in HASA for other benefits but haven't asked about housing? Talk to your assigned caseworker. They can start the housing component without putting you through a whole new intake.

How can I apply for a housing voucher if I am not in New York City?

HASA is a New York City program only. Live outside the five boroughs and you can't apply for it.

If you're living with HIV/AIDS and need housing help somewhere else, here are your main options:

The federal Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8), run by your local housing authority. It's open to low-income households regardless of health status, subject to income limits and waitlist openings. Check for open Section 8 waiting lists near you before you apply, because many PHAs close their lists when demand runs past capacity.^[2]

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program housing services. The federal Ryan White program, funded under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, runs housing-related services through state and local grantees. Not every grantee pays direct rental assistance, but many offer emergency housing funds, short-term rent help, or referrals to other programs.^[6]

HUD's Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program. HOPWA is a federal grant program built for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The money goes to states and cities, which pass it to local nonprofits and housing agencies. In a metro area with a HOPWA grantee, you might get rental assistance, transitional housing, or short-term mortgage and utility payments.^[7]

For any of these, start with your local housing authority and your local HIV services organization. Both can tell you what's funded and taking applications in your area right now.

For a wider look at the rental assistance picture beyond HASA, VoucherReady's guides break down the federal programs one by one.

How can I apply for a housing voucher in general?

If you're asking how to get a housing voucher as a general matter, separate from HASA, the door is your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). The federal Housing Choice Voucher program is the biggest rental subsidy in the country, covering about 2.3 million households as of HUD's most recent data.^[8]

Here's the basic path:

First, find your local PHA. HUD keeps a searchable directory at hud.gov. Every jurisdiction has one. Big cities run their own, smaller areas get covered by a county or regional PHA.

Second, check whether the waiting list is open. Most PHAs have far more applicants than vouchers. A closed list means no new applications. Some PHAs open their lists for only a few days when they have room. Check the PHA's website or call.

Third, apply during the open window. Applications ask for household makeup, income, current address, and basic eligibility facts. Most PHAs take applications online now, though a few still use paper.

Fourth, wait. Waitlist times run from a few months at smaller PHAs to 10 years or more in high-demand cities like New York or Los Angeles.^[8] You have to keep your contact info current the whole time.

Fifth, answer when they call. When your name comes up, you go through a full eligibility screening. The PHA checks income against area limits (household income generally has to be at or below 50 percent of area median income, and a statute requires 75 percent of new admissions to be at or below 30 percent of AMI).^[2][9]

Pass the screening and you get a voucher with an initial search period, usually 60 to 120 days, to find a qualifying unit.^[2]

The housing section 8 program page on VoucherReady walks the full federal process if you want more.

What documents do you need to apply for HASA?

Get your documents together before intake. HASA workers see hundreds of clients, and showing up prepared moves your case faster.

Bring these to your HASA intake appointment:

Proof of identity: a government-issued ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID), a birth certificate, or a combination that shows who you are. Non-citizens should bring whatever immigration papers they have, though missing papers won't automatically knock you out.

Proof of HIV/AIDS diagnosis: a letter from your doctor, clinic, or hospital on letterhead stating the diagnosis. HASA also has a standard medical form (the "LDSS-4768" or equivalent) that your provider can complete.^[5]

Proof of New York City residency: a utility bill, lease, shelter letter, or any official mail with your name and a city address.

Proof of income: recent pay stubs, SSI/SSDI award letters, or documentation that you have no income. No income? Say so. HASA can still help.

Household documentation: birth certificates or other proof for any children or dependents you want on your case.

Applying because of an eviction or a housing emergency? Bring the court papers, eviction notice, or shelter stay records. HASA can sometimes speed up placement for people facing imminent homelessness.

How long does HASA housing assistance last?

HASA housing isn't on a clock the way emergency programs are. As long as you stay eligible (you still have an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, still live in New York City, still meet the income rules), the subsidy keeps going.^[1]

You do recertify, usually once a year. Your caseworker reviews your income, household, and housing each year. If your income jumps, your subsidy may shrink. If you leave the city, benefits stop.

Clients in supportive housing can stay indefinitely, or move to a scatter-site apartment as things stabilize. There's no forced graduation from the program.

HASA can end benefits for cause, say if you commit fraud on your application or get evicted for breaking your lease. If you disagree with a HASA decision, you have the right to a fair hearing through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).^[4]

What are the HASA shelter allowance rates?

HASA sets maximum shelter allowances, the most the program will pay toward rent. New York City sets them and updates them from time to time. The numbers below are published rates. Confirm the current figure with your caseworker or the NYC DSS website, because these do get adjusted.

Household Size	HASA Maximum Shelter Allowance (approximate, 2024)
1 person	$1,312/month
2 persons	$1,474/month
3 persons	$1,714/month
4 persons	$1,882/month
5+ persons	$1,973/month

These come from NYC DSS published schedules.^[3] They are not the same thing as the HUD Fair Market Rents used in the federal voucher program, though in practice the numbers land in a similar range for the New York metro area. HUD's FY2024 Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom in the New York-Newark HUD Metro FMR Area is $2,015.^[10]

Here's the catch. If the rent on the unit you want runs above the HASA maximum, you generally can't use HASA to cover the gap. Some clients talk the landlord down to an approved rent. Others hunt in neighborhoods where rents sit under the ceiling. This is one of the hardest practical parts of the program, and it's worst in Manhattan.

How is HASA different from a federal Section 8 voucher?

People mix up HASA and Section 8 because both cut the rent. They are different programs in several ways.

Feature	HASA Housing Subsidy	Federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Who qualifies	NYC residents with HIV/AIDS	Low-income households generally
Geographic scope	New York City only	Nationwide, portable
Governing law	NYC/NYS Social Services Law	24 CFR Part 982
Waitlist	Case-by-case, no public lottery	Public lottery or first-come list
Portability	No	Yes, after 12 months generally
Caseworker support	Yes, required	Optional (counseling programs exist)
Immigration status	Open to non-citizens	Subject to federal restrictions

A federal hud housing voucher moves with you and isn't tied to a diagnosis. HASA is local, diagnosis-specific, and comes with wraparound services a federal voucher doesn't include.

In New York City with HIV/AIDS, you may be able to chase both at once, but you can't double-dip on the rent subsidy. Holding a HASA subsidy and a federal voucher on the same unit is generally off limits, and the two programs would coordinate.

What should tenants and landlords know about HASA placements?

For tenants, the main thing is that HASA moves at its own speed. Caseworkers carry heavy caseloads, and getting a unit approved takes patience. Stay in close touch with your caseworker. If you find a private-market unit, grab the landlord's contact info and ask your caseworker exactly what paperwork the landlord has to complete. Moving fast on your end usually speeds the whole thing up.

For landlords, taking a HASA tenant looks a lot like taking a voucher tenant, except the city, not a federal housing authority, cuts the check. HASA pays directly and pays on time, which is the draw. The lease goes through a HASA review, and a caseworker may reach out during the tenancy, but HASA doesn't run the Housing Quality Standards inspection that federal voucher programs require under 24 CFR 982.401.^[2] Landlords keep their normal rights under New York landlord-tenant law.

Weighing whether to list units for HASA clients? The natural comparison is the federal voucher process. For a rundown of what to expect from voucher tenancies more broadly, the VoucherReady landlord kit covers inspections, payment structure, and the common questions. Direct payment and a city-set rent ceiling apply to both programs.

One honest caveat. HASA's administrative side has taken criticism for years over placement delays and spotty caseworker communication. The New York City Council has held oversight hearings on HASA performance.^[11] Tenant stuck in a long delay? Escalate to your caseworker's supervisor, or call the Legal Aid Society of New York, which runs an HIV/AIDS unit that handles HASA disputes.^[12]

What other housing programs exist for people with HIV/AIDS?

Beyond HASA, people with HIV/AIDS have several housing options depending on where they live and their situation.

HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS) is a federal program run by HUD. It sends grants to states and localities for housing services aimed at low-income people with HIV/AIDS. HOPWA money can pay for short-term rent assistance, transitional housing, or long-term subsidies, depending on how the local grantee sets it up.^[7] HUD's HOPWA page lists grantees by state.

Ryan White Part B and Part C grantees sometimes fold emergency housing assistance into their support services, though this shifts by state and funding cycle.^[6]

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments, explained at low income housing tax credit, often house people with HIV/AIDS because nonprofit developers use them to build affordable supportive housing. They aren't diagnosis-specific, but plenty of LIHTC buildings in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago were put up by AIDS service organizations.

Local AIDS service organizations (ASOs) in most cities run emergency rental assistance, especially for people newly diagnosed or in crisis. Find your local ASO through the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) or amfAR's directory.

For seniors living with HIV, low income senior housing programs, including HUD Section 202, can sometimes stack with an HIV-specific subsidy. People with HIV are living longer thanks to effective treatment, so more clients are aging into senior housing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a HASA housing voucher in New York City?

Call HASA's intake line at 212-971-0626 or walk into a borough HASA office. Bring proof of identity, HIV/AIDS diagnosis documentation from a medical provider, proof of New York City residency, and proof of income. A worker completes an intake interview and decides your eligibility. If approved, a caseworker gets assigned and the housing placement process starts.

How can I apply for a housing voucher if I don't have HIV/AIDS?

HASA is only for people with HIV/AIDS. For general rental help, apply through your local Public Housing Authority for a federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). Check whether the local PHA's waiting list is open before you apply, since many lists are closed because of demand. Find your local PHA through HUD's website at hud.gov.

How long is the HASA housing waitlist?

HASA has no single public waitlist like federal Section 8. Time to placement depends on the housing type. Supportive housing runs from a few weeks to several months depending on vacancy. Private-market placement depends on how fast you find a willing landlord and get the unit approved. Ask your caseworker for a realistic timeline.

Can undocumented immigrants apply for HASA housing assistance?

Yes. New York State Social Services Law grants access to HASA services regardless of immigration status. You don't need to be a U.S. citizen or have legal immigration status to get HASA housing assistance. Bring whatever identity documents you have. HASA workers are trained to work with clients who have limited documentation.

Does HASA pay rent directly to the landlord?

Yes. HASA pays the housing subsidy straight to the landlord each month, much like a federal voucher. The tenant generally pays a share of rent based on income, and HASA covers the rest up to the program's maximum shelter allowance. The exact split depends on the tenant's income and the approved rent.

What is the maximum rent HASA will cover?

HASA sets maximum shelter allowances by household size. Approximate 2024 figures: $1,312 a month for one person, $1,474 for two, $1,714 for three, $1,882 for four. NYC DSS updates them periodically. If your unit's rent tops the ceiling for your household size, HASA generally won't cover the difference, so you'd need a cheaper unit.

Can I use HASA and a federal Section 8 voucher at the same time?

You can't get two subsidies for the same unit at once. If you hold both a HASA subsidy and a federal Housing Choice Voucher, the programs have to coordinate, and you can't use both to pay rent on one apartment. Some clients hold a federal voucher in reserve while using HASA, but double-subsidizing a single unit is prohibited under program rules.

What happens to my HASA housing if I move out of New York City?

Your HASA subsidy ends the day you leave New York City. HASA is city-run and doesn't travel with you. Thinking about moving to another state? Contact your caseworker well ahead of time to see whether the new location has HOPWA, Ryan White, or local housing programs that could pick up after your HASA benefits stop.

What is supportive housing and how does it differ from a HASA scatter-site apartment?

Supportive housing is a building where a nonprofit has contracted with HASA to provide both an apartment and on-site services like case management, medical referrals, and counseling. A scatter-site apartment is a privately rented unit in the open market where the tenant lives independently with only a rent subsidy. Supportive housing often places faster and gives more support; scatter-site gives more independence.

How do I appeal a HASA housing decision I disagree with?

Request a fair hearing through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). You generally have 60 days from the notice of the agency's action to ask for a hearing. The Legal Aid Society of New York has an HIV/AIDS unit that can help you prepare a fair hearing request at no cost if you can't afford an attorney.

Is HOPWA the same as HASA?

No. HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS) is a federal HUD grant program that funds housing services for low-income people with HIV/AIDS nationwide. HASA is a New York City agency. In New York City some HOPWA funds flow through HASA-connected programs, but they're separate. HOPWA exists in cities and states across the country; HASA exists only in New York City.

What if I am HIV-positive but currently housed and don't need a subsidy?

You can still use HASA for other services: medical case management, benefits help, food programs, transportation help, all without a housing subsidy. Housing is only one part of the HASA package. Clients in stable housing often work with caseworkers on medical adherence and benefits enrollment without ever getting a rent supplement.

How do I find section 8 houses for rent that accept vouchers?

Landlord listing sites, your local PHA's referral list, and platforms like Go Section 8 pull together units that accept vouchers. You can also start at section 8 houses for rent for tips on searching efficiently. For HASA specifically, your caseworker keeps contacts with landlords who know the HASA process.

Sources

1. HUD, 24 CFR Part 982 - Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance: Housing Choice Voucher Program: Federal Housing Choice Vouchers are governed by 24 CFR Part 982, require 75 percent of new admissions to be at or below 30 percent of AMI, and the initial search period is typically 60-120 days
2. NYC Department of Social Services, HASA shelter allowance schedules: HASA maximum shelter allowances by household size, approximately $1,312 for one person through $1,882 for four persons as of 2024
3. HRSA, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program overview: The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 funds housing-related services through state and local grantees, including emergency housing funds and short-term rent assistance
4. HUD, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program: HOPWA is a federal HUD grant program providing housing assistance specifically for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, distributed through state and local grantees
5. HUD, Picture of Subsidized Households 2023: The federal Housing Choice Voucher program covers approximately 2.3 million households; waitlist times range from months to over 10 years in high-demand cities
6. HUD, Income Limits for HCV Program (24 CFR 982.201): Household income must generally be at or below 50 percent of area median income to qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, with 75 percent of new admissions required at or below 30 percent of AMI
7. HUD, FY2024 Fair Market Rents - New York-Newark HUD Metro FMR Area: HUD's FY2024 Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom in the New York-Newark HUD Metro FMR Area is $2,015 per month
8. New York City Council, Oversight Hearings on HASA Performance: The New York City Council has held oversight hearings on HASA performance, including concerns about delays in housing placement and caseworker communication