ADVANTAGE NY

Advantage NY is designed to provide short-term rental assistance to shelter residents while encouraging self sufficiency.  Advantage NY does not require program participants to maintain active PA cases after securing an apartment and emphasizes the importance of employment.  Those with barriers to employment, such as a disability or an active ACS case, will receive a Section 8 priority and the possibility of a long term housing subsidy.  Because one size does not fit all, shelter residents can access Advantage NY through one of four“doors” depending on their situation and needs.

Door 1: Work Advantage (WAP): for those who work at least 20 hours per week and have active public assistance cases (must receive cash assistance in an HRA domestic violence shelter or if you are in a DHS homeless shelter your income cannot exceed 150% of the federal poverty level.)

Door 1.5: Domestic Violence Advantage: for those who are residing in the HRA Domestic Violence Shelter System who have active cash public assistance cases.

Door 2: Fixed Income Advantage (FIX): for those households where a family member receives SSI/SSD or other federally recognized benefit.

Door 3: Children Advantage: for families identified by ACS as eligible for the program.

Door 4: Short-Term Advantage (HIFI): for those who are currently working and not receiving public benefits.  Participants must be able to demonstrate that they can afford to pay rent on a regular basis but will receive assistance paying up front costs such as broker fees, security deposits and the first few months rent.

WORK ADVANTAGE PROGRAM (WAP)

The Work Advantage Program (WAP) is a New York City program that provides rental support to help domestic violence and homeless shelter residents who are working part-time obtain permanent housing.

WAP is a one year subsidy program with the possibility of a one year extension. WAP pays three months’ rent to the landlord at the lease signing, as well as a security deposit and brokers’ fees.

Key Program Points
Subsidy Rent Levels
Eligibility Requirements
Application Process
Finding an Apartment
Common WAP issues

Key Program Points

• Applicants must be living in a HRA domestic violence shelter or DHS homeless shelter to receive WAP.
• Applicants must be working at least 20 hours per week.  Homeless shelter residents must have maintained employment for at least 30 days in order to be WAP eligible. 
• Applicants residing in domestic violence shelters must be receiving cash public assistance benefits to be eligible and must maintain their benefits up to the lease signing date.  Applicants residing in homeless shelters must either have an active cash assistance case or single issuance PA case.
• WAP requires participants to open a savings account and save 10-20% of the rental amount monthly which will be matched by the City at the program’s end.
• WAP participants are required to contribute $50 per month towards the total rental cost directly to the landlord monthly.  This rental payment will be matched by the City at the program’s end.
• WAP tenants cannot rent an apartment that is higher than the WAP rent amounts.
• The Human Resources Administration (HRA) administers the WAP program for domestic violence shelter residents. The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) administers the WAP program for homeless shelter residents.

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Subsidy Rent Levels

Click here for a chart providing information about the subsidy level households can expect based on the number of family members receiving Public Assistance.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Work:  Applicants must be working at least 20 hours per week earning minimum wage or more.  The employment must be “on the books” and applicants must be legally allowed to work in the United States.  For applicants in HRA shelters, you must be working by the time your shelter worker submits the paperwork to HRA to link you to your apartment.  For applicants in DHS shelters you must have held your job for at least 30 days to be eligible.
• Public Assistance: Domestic violence shelter residents must be eligible for cash assistance to qualify for WAP.  Your income from employment cannot exceed the allowable amount to receive cash benefits from PA.  In order to become certified for WAP you must have an active cash assistance case (no sanctions). Homeless Shelter residents must qualify for either cash benefits or a single issuance public assistance case.  Homeless shelter residents’ income cannot exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Level to qualify.  For income limits for DHS shelter residents click here.
• Shelter Residency: To be eligible for WAP, domestic violence shelter residents must have been residing in shelter for 42 days or more.  For information on residency requirements for homeless shelter residents click here.

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Application Process

Eligible domestic violence shelter residents are automatically sent letters of certification from HRA after their 42nd day in shelter.

Once a WAP applicant has found an apartment, their shelter advocate submits a WAP apartment application to HRA along with proof of employment for approval. Shelter residents can use HUD’s list of move-in conditions to help ensure they choose an apartment that will be approved.

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Finding a WAP Apartment

Domestic violence shelter residents cannot rent an apartment in certain excluded zip codes depending on where their domestic violence incidents occurred. For help finding an apartment, visit our Finding Housing section.  

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Common WAP Issues

• Public Assistance: Although you must be working to sign a lease for the WAP program, DV shelter residents must also have an active public assistance case.  If you have a part time job and are unsure if you qualify for public assistance go to ACCESS NYC to see if you are eligible.
  
  If your public assistance case closes due to employment after you move to your WAP apartment, be sure to take advantage of the transitional benefits public assistance offers.  For more information on transitional benefits click here.

Click here for other resources to help maintain WAP housing – including contact information for PA offices, housing offices, legal providers, and workforce development agencies in each borough or click here to ask us a question.

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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM (DV AP)

The Domestic Violence Advantage Program (DV Advantage) is a New York City program that provides rental support to help domestic violence shelter residents who are working part-time obtain permanent housing.

DV Advantage is a one year subsidy program with the possibility of a one year extension. DV Advantage pays three months’ rent to the landlord at the lease signing, as well as a security deposit and any brokers’ fees up to the equivalent of one month’s rent.

Key Program Points
Subsidy Rent Levels
Eligibility Requirements
Application Process
Finding an Apartment
Common WAP issues

Key Program Points

• Applicants must be living in a HRA domestic violence shelter to receive DV Advantage.
• Applicants must be receiving cash public assistance benefits to be eligible and must maintain their benefits up to the lease signing date. 
• DV Advantage participants are expected to secure employment within 6 months of signing their leases. 
• HRA pays the $50 rental contribution of the subsidy normally paid by working clients under the WAP program.  When the DV Advantage tenant gets a job the tenant will begin paying the $50 on his/her own.
• DV Advantage tenants cannot rent an apartment that is higher than the DV Advantage rent amounts.
• The Human Resources Administration (HRA) administers the DV Advantage program.     

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Subsidy Rent Levels

Click here for a chart providing information about the subsidy level households can expect based on the number of family members receiving Public Assistance.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Domestic Violence Shelter Residency: To be eligible for DV Advantage you must be a resident of a domestic violence shelter for at least 42 days.  Homeless (DHS) shelter residents are not eligible.
• Public Assistance: Domestic violence shelter residents must be receiving PA cash assistance to qualify for DV Advantage (no sanctions).
• Work:  Applicants must get a job within six months of their lease signing.  The employment must be “on the books” and applicants must be legally allowed to work in the United States.  

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Application Process

Eligible domestic violence shelter residents are automatically sent letters of certification from HRA after their 42nd day in shelter.

Once a DV Advantage applicant has found an apartment, her shelter advocate submits a DV Advantage apartment application to HRA for approval. Shelter residents can use HUD’s list of move-in conditions to help ensure they choose an apartment that will be approved.

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Finding a DV Advantage Apartment

Domestic violence shelter residents cannot rent an apartment in certain excluded zip codes depending on where their domestic violence incidents occurred. For help finding an apartment, visit our Finding Housing section.

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Common DV Advantage Issues

• Public Assistance: In order to receive DV Advantage your public assistance case must be open and active without any sanctions.
  
  If your public assistance case closes due to employment after you move to your DV Advantage apartment, be sure to take advantage of the transitional benefits public assistance offers.  For more information on transitional benefits click here.

Click here for other resources to help maintain DV Advantage housing – including contact information for PA offices, housing offices, legal providers, and workforce development agencies in each borough or click here to ask us a question.

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FIXED INCOME ADVANTAGE PROGRAM (FIX)

The Fixed Income Advantage Program (FIX) is a New York City program that provides rental support to help domestic violence and homeless shelter residents who are receiving SSI/SSD obtain permanent housing.

FIX is a one year subsidy program that gives applicants a priority for Section 8.  Note that Section 8 is not guaranteed, FIX tenants are subject to all Section 8 program eligibility rules and regulations.

FIX pays three months’ rent to the landlord at the lease signing, as well as a security deposit and any brokers’ fees up to the equivalent of one month’s rent.

Key Program Points
Subsidy Rent Levels
Eligibility Requirements
Application Process
Finding an Apartment
Common FIX issues

Key Program Points

• Applicants must be families living in a HRA domestic violence shelter or DHS homeless shelter to receive FIX.  Single residents are not eligible.
• A household member in the applicant’s family must be receiving SSI/SSD and other household members must be receiving public assistance.
• If the head of household is not the household member on SSI/SSD, he or she must be on public assistance for the family to qualify for FIX.
• Because FIX is designed to transition into Section 8 where applicants are found eligible the subsidy amount is not based on the number of household members but on the apartment size deemed appropriate for the family in accordance with Section 8 occupancy standards.
• FIX tenants are not required to contribute to the rent unless they are a family member receiving a non-benefit based income.  Family members with non-benefit based income will have to contribute 30% of their income towards the rent. 
• FIX tenants cannot rent an apartment that is higher than the FIX rent amounts.
• The Human Resources Administration (HRA) administers the FIX program for domestic violence shelter residents. The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) administers the FIX program for homeless shelter residents.

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Subsidy Rent Levels

Click here for a chart providing information about the subsidy level households can expect based on their family size.

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Eligibility Requirements

• SSI or SSD Benefits: To qualify for FIX at least one household member (head of household or child) must receive SSI or SSD benefits; other non-SSI/SSD household members must be on public assistance to qualify.  Families that do not have a PA case will not be eligible. 
• Shelter Residency: To be eligible for FIX domestic violence shelter residents must have been residing in shelter for 42 days or more.  For information on residency requirements for homeless shelter residents click here.

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Application Process

Eligible domestic violence shelter residents are automatically sent letters of certification from HRA after their 42nd day in shelter.

Once a FIX applicant has found an apartment, her shelter advocate submits a FIX apartment application to HRA along with a completed Section 8 application that will be forwarded to NYCHA for processing. Shelter residents can use HUD’s list of move-in conditions to help ensure they choose an apartment that will be approved.

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Finding a FIX Apartment

Domestic violence shelter residents cannot rent an apartment in certain excluded zip codes depending on where their domestic violence incidents occurred. For help finding an apartment, visit our Finding Housing section.

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Common FIX Issues

• Section 8 Eligibility: Since the FIX program is intended to transition into Section 8, applicants should be aware of common obstacles to Section 8 eligibility.
  
  The main eligibility obstacles for Section 8 applicants are: immigration status, criminal background, and rental arrears from a previous NYCHA or Section 8 apartment. Click on the issue area you are facing for more information on how to overcome these obstacles.

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CHILDREN ADVANTAGE PROGRAM

The Children Advantage Program is a New York City program that provides rental support to help domestic violence and homeless shelter residents determined by ACS to be eligible for this permanent housing program.

Children Advantage is a one year subsidy program that gives applicants a priority for Section 8.  Children Advantage tenants are subject to all Section 8 program eligibility rules and regulations – Section 8 is not guaranteed. 

Children Advantage pays three months’ rent to the landlord at the lease signing, as well as a security deposit and any brokers’ fees up to the equivalent of one month’s rent.

Key Program Points
Subsidy Rent Levels
Eligibility Requirements
Application Process
Finding an Apartment
Common Children Advantage issues

Key Program Points

• Applicants must be living in a HRA domestic violence shelter or DHS homeless shelter to receive Children Advantage.
• ACS designates which cases will receive Children Advantage.  Generally, eligible cases include shelter residents with reunification cases, active ACS cases or, preventive ACS cases.  Cases that are under investigation by ACS are not eligible.  Shelter residents with active ACS and preventive cases are encouraged to speak with their ACS workers to see if they are eligible. 
• Because Children Advantage is designed to transition into Section 8 where applicants are found eligible the subsidy amount is not based on the number of household members but on the apartment size deemed appropriate for the family in accordance with Section 8 occupancy standards.
• Children Advantage tenants are not required to contribute to the rent.
• Children Advantage tenants cannot rent an apartment that is higher than the Children Advantage rent amounts.

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Subsidy Rent Levels

Click here for a chart providing information about the subsidy level households can expect based on their family size.

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Eligibility Requirements

• ACS: Families with active ACS or active preventive services cases may be eligible for the program.  Cases that are under ACS investigation are not eligible. 
• Shelter Residency: To be eligible for Children Advantage domestic violence shelter residents must have been residing in shelter for 42 days or more.  For information on residency requirements for homeless shelter residents click here.

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Application Process

Domestic Violence shelters will identify potentially eligible families who have active ACS or preventive cases and forward the information to HRA.  HRA will confirm the families’ eligibility with ACS.

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Finding a Children Advantage Apartment

Domestic violence shelter residents cannot rent an apartment in certain excluded zip codes depending on where their domestic violence incidents occurred. For help finding an apartment, visit our Finding Housing section.

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Common Children Advantage Issues

• Section 8 Eligibility: Since the Children Advantage program is intended to transition in to Section 8 applicants should be aware of common obstacles to Section 8 eligibility. 
  
  The main eligibility obstacles for Section 8 applicants are: immigration status, criminal background , and rental arrears from a previous NYCHA or Section 8 apartment. Click on the issue area you are facing for more information on how to overcome these obstacles.

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SHORT-TERM ADVANTAGE PROGRAM (HIFI)

The Short-Term Advantage Program provides rental support for domestic violence and homeless shelter residents who are working or receiving other income that allows them to be economically self-sufficient.

Short Term Advantage provides short-term assistance to pay upfront costs associated with securing an apartment and does not provide ongoing rental assistance.

Short Term Advantage pays four months’ rent to the landlord, as well as a security deposit and any broker’s fees up to the equivalent of one months rent as well as furniture allowance if eligible.  Short Term Advantage applicants may be asked to contribute to these costs depending on their resources and income.

Key Program Points
Subsidy Rent Levels
Eligibility Requirements
Application Process
Finding an Apartment
Common HIFI issues

Key Program Points

• Applicants must be living in a HRA domestic violence shelter or receive a referral from DHS to receive Short Term Advantage.
• Applicants must be working or receiving income from other sources that is high enough for economic self-sufficiency.
• Applicants may not be receiving public assistance cash benefits.
• Short Term Advantage participants must be able to demonstrate that after receiving Short Term Advantage they will be able to pay their rent on their own going forward.
• Short Term Advantage applicants will find their own apartment on the private market – apartments are not subject to inspections.
• The Human Resources Administration (HRA) administers the Short Term Advantage program for domestic violence shelter residents. The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) administers the Short Term Advantage program for homeless shelter residents.

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Subsidy Rent Levels

Since Short Term Advantage applicants will be paying their rent on their own after receiving initial assistance, there are no subsidy rent levels.  A Short Term Advantage applicant can choose any apartment at any cost as long as they can demonstrate that they will be able to afford the rental payments after receiving Short Term Advantage.

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Eligibility Requirements

• Income:  For those residing in the domestic violence (HRA) shelter system, you are eligible for the Short Term Advantage Program if your income exceeds the allowable amount to receive public assistance.  There is no fixed upward income limit for those applicants coming from the domestic violence (HRA) shelter system. 
  
  For those residing in the homeless shelter system (DHS) you must be earning between 150% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to qualify; for income ranges for DHS shelter residents click here.

• Shelter Residency: To be eligible for Short Term Advantage domestic violence shelter residents must have been residing in shelter for 42 days or more.  Contact your DHS shelter worker for information on residency requirements for homeless shelter residents.

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Application Process

Eligible domestic violence shelter residents are automatically sent letters of certification from HRA after their 42nd day in shelter.

Once a Short Term Advantage applicant has found an apartment, his or her shelter advocate contacts HRA and faxes over information on the apartment and the applicant’s income and resources.  HRA will then schedule an appointment for the applicant at the Riverview Job Center where he or she will continue the application and lease signing process. 

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Finding a Short Term Advantage Apartment

Domestic violence shelter residents cannot rent an apartment in certain excluded zip codes depending on where their domestic violence incidents occurred. For help finding an apartment, visit our Finding Housing section.

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Common Short Term Advantage Issues

Insufficient Income: Short Term Advantage participants will not receive ongoing rental assistance after the first four months of rent is paid at lease signing.  In order to qualify, you must have enough income to afford your rent for your apartment. Budgeting, workforce development and maximizing the benefits that you are eligible to receive can help you maintain your Short Term Advantage apartment. Click on the topic you would like to learn about for more information.

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