Summary of 2022 Changes to NYC’s FHEPS & CityFHEPS

In 2022, NYC Department of Social Services’ (DSS) made major changes to rental subsidy programs, CityFHEPS and FHEPS. Below is a summary of these changes, which include increasing the maximum rental amount, establishing a new method to determine the subsidy amount, and enacting a rent reasonableness test.

• Increased Maximum Rent Amounts
  • The maximum rent amounts for both CityFHEPS and FHEPS now match, and will continue to match, NYCHA’s Section 8 payment standards.
  • CityFHEPS maximum rents went into effect in May 2022; click here.
  • FHEPS maximum rents went into effect October 2022; click here.
• Subsidy Amounts
  • Like NYCHA’s Section 8, CityFHEPS and FHEPS determine the maximum rent/subsidy based on the number of bedrooms for which a household is eligible, which is determined by the number of CityFHEPS or FHEPS-eligible household members.
  • Additionally, like NYCHA’s Section 8, both CityFHEPS and FHEPS will take into consideration whether utilities are included in the rental unit’s rent amount.
  • If the unit’s rent includes all utilities, the household can be eligible for the maximum rent/subsidy.
  • If the unit’s rent does not include some, or all, utilities, the household’s maximum rent amount will decrease by DSS’s predetermined utility allowances.
  • Click here for CityFHEPS utility allowances.
  • Click here for FHEPS utility allowances.
• Rent Reasonableness Test
  • While the maximum rent amounts have increased, DSS applies a rent reasonableness test to determine if the rent is similar to, and not more than, rents for other apartments in the building or neighborhood. That is, the rent is reasonable for the unit’s address.
  • DSS uses www.affordablehousing.com, a web-based tool, to determine rent reasonableness.
  • If the tool shows that the rent is not reasonable and it should be lower than the maximum CityFHEPS or FHEPS rent amounts, DSS can award a lower subsidy to the household.

If you have an account to Benefits Plus Online, you can access additional details on CityFHEPS and FHEPS, including case examples, in the links below:

• https://bplc.cssny.org/pbm/cash-benefits/cash-assistance/housing-subsidies#cityfheps-city-fighting-homelessness-and-eviction-prevention-supplement
• https://bplc.cssny.org/pbm/cash-benefits/cash-assistance/housing-subsidies#fheps-family-homelessness-and-eviction-prevention-supplement

Don’t have an account? Click here to purchase a subscription.