CityFHEPS vs Section 8: What's the Difference?

If you're looking for housing assistance in New York City, you've probably heard both "Section 8" and "CityFHEPS" thrown around, sometimes interchangeably. They're not the same thing, but the confusion is understandable. Both are voucher programs that help pay rent. Both use similar payment standards now. And landlords are legally required to accept both.

Here's how they actually differ and what it means for your housing search.

The Short Version

Section 8 is a federal program. CityFHEPS is a city program. They have different eligibility requirements, different application processes, and different administering agencies. But if you're a landlord, the rent you receive is roughly the same either way. And if you're a tenant, both programs work similarly once you have the voucher in hand.

The biggest practical difference: you can actually get CityFHEPS right now if you qualify. The Section 8 waitlist in NYC was closed for over a decade and just reopened briefly in 2024. If you weren't one of the 200,000 households selected from that lottery, you're not getting Section 8 anytime soon.

Who Runs Each Program

Section 8 (officially called Housing Choice Voucher) is funded by the federal government through HUD. In NYC, it's administered by three separate agencies:

NYCHA (the largest program)

HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development)

HCR (NY State Homes and Community Renewal)

CityFHEPS is funded entirely by New York City and administered by HRA (Human Resources Administration) through DSS (Department of Social Services).

This matters because the paperwork, the contacts, and the processes are completely different. If you have a Section 8 question, you're dealing with NYCHA or HPD. If you have a CityFHEPS question, you're dealing with HRA.

Who Qualifies

This is where the programs diverge significantly.

Section 8 eligibility is based on income. You need to earn below 50% of Area Median Income (for NYC, that's around $52,000 for a family of four). There are also preferences for certain groups like veterans, the elderly, and people with disabilities. But fundamentally, if your income is low enough and you get off the waitlist, you can qualify.

CityFHEPS is more restrictive. You generally need to be:

Currently in a homeless shelter (DHS or HRA domestic violence shelter) OR

At risk of homelessness or eviction OR

Street homeless and receiving services from a DHS provider

AND you need to:

Have income at or below 200% of federal poverty level

Be receiving cash assistance (with some exceptions)

Meet work requirements (with exceptions for disability, age 60+, or veterans)

In other words, CityFHEPS is specifically designed for people who are homeless or about to be. Section 8 is broader but nearly impossible to access because of the waitlist.

How Much They Pay

This used to be a major difference. CityFHEPS vouchers were worth much less than Section 8, which made it nearly impossible to find apartments in most NYC neighborhoods.

That changed in 2021 when the City Council passed legislation to raise CityFHEPS payment standards to match Section 8 levels. Now both programs use the same Fair Market Rent standards set by HUD.

For example, as of 2025:

1 bedroom: up to $2,511/month

2 bedroom: up to $2,780/month

3 bedroom: up to $3,465/month

The tenant pays about 30% of their income toward rent. The voucher covers the rest, up to these limits.

The Application Process

Section 8: You apply when the waitlist opens (which happens rarely). If selected by lottery, you wait months or years until your number comes up. Then you get a voucher, find an apartment, and go through inspection. The whole process can take years from application to move-in.

CityFHEPS: If you're in shelter, you work with your housing specialist. If you're at risk of homelessness, you go through Homebase. Once approved, you get a "shopping letter" that's valid for 120 days. You find an apartment, submit paperwork, pass inspection, and move in. The process typically takes 2-4 months from approval to move-in, though bureaucratic delays can extend that.

How Long They Last

Section 8 is essentially permanent, as long as you continue to qualify based on income and follow program rules. You recertify annually, but if your income stays within limits, you keep the voucher indefinitely. This is why Section 8 is so valuable and the waitlist is so long.

CityFHEPS used to have stricter income limits for renewal, but recent rule changes allow you to keep the voucher if you earn up to 80% of Area Median Income. After five years, if 30% of your income equals your rent, you're expected to transition off the program. It's more of a bridge to stability than a permanent subsidy.

Portability

Section 8 is portable nationwide. If you have a voucher from NYCHA and want to move to New Jersey or California, you can transfer it to the housing authority there. This is a significant advantage.

CityFHEPS only works in New York City, or with reduced payment standards, elsewhere in New York State. If you move out of state, you lose the voucher.

From a Landlord's Perspective

I've dealt with both programs. Honestly, the rent you receive is similar, and both come with paperwork and inspections. The differences that matter to landlords:

Payment timing: Section 8 payments through NYCHA tend to be more predictable. CityFHEPS payments through HRA can be inconsistent, sometimes arriving mid-month or late. Not late enough to cause real problems, but late enough to be annoying if you're tracking cash flow.

Inspection process: Both require HQS inspections before move-in and periodically after. In my experience, NYCHA inspections are more standardized. HRA inspections can vary depending on who shows up.

Tenant stability: Section 8 tenants often stay longer because the voucher is permanent and portable. CityFHEPS tenants may move if their circumstances change or if they eventually get Section 8.

None of these differences are dealbreakers. A tenant with a voucher is a tenant with guaranteed rent, regardless of which program it comes from.

Which One Should You Try to Get?

If you have a choice, Section 8 is the better voucher. It's permanent, it's portable, and the federal backing makes it more stable long-term. The problem is that you probably don't have a choice. The waitlist is closed.

If you're homeless or at risk of homelessness, CityFHEPS is what's available. It's not as permanent as Section 8, but it's a real voucher with real payment standards that can get you into real housing. Don't wait for Section 8 to open again when you could be housed now.

If you're low-income but not homeless, you're in the hardest position. You probably don't qualify for CityFHEPS, and you can't get Section 8. The best you can do is watch for the Section 8 waitlist to reopen (follow NYCHA announcements), apply for affordable housing lotteries through NYC Housing Connect, and look into other programs like FHEPS (the state version) or HASA if you qualify.

The Bottom Line

CityFHEPS and Section 8 are different programs with different rules, but they accomplish the same basic thing: paying most of your rent so you can afford housing in NYC. Landlords are required to accept both. Payment amounts are now the same.

The real difference is access. Section 8 is better but impossible to get. CityFHEPS is available if you're homeless or about to be. Neither program is easy to navigate, but both are worth pursuing if you qualify.

---

Looking for housing that accepts vouchers? Browse listings on VoucherMatch where every landlord welcomes CityFHEPS, Section 8, and other housing assistance programs.