HOUSING TRANSFERS

Advantage NY Transfers

NYCHA Public Housing Transfers
NYCHA Section 8 Transfers

Housing Stability Plus (HSP) Transfers

Advantage NY Transfers

If an Advantage NY tenant needs to move during the initial term of his or her lease either because of domestic violence, poor conditions or some other emergency, procedures depend on which shelter system assisted him or her in getting the apartment. Tenants placed in their homes by an HRA Domestic Violence Shelter should contact her ADVENT worker or the HRA worker who assisted her at the lease signing for guidance. Those placed by a Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter may reach out to their local HomeBase office for assistance. HomeBase locations can be found here.

Before requesting assistance, be aware that while no formal documentation requirements for transfers exist, tenants should be prepared to provide some concrete information as to why the transfer is required. For example, if there are poor conditions in the apartment that make it dangerous, the client should have an inspection report from HPD (such reports are generated when clients call 311 to complain of the condition and an inspector has been dispatched to document the problem). For new domestic violence incidents if no documentation such as police reports exists, clients should consult with a domestic violence service provider for assistance and advocacy.

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NYCHA Public Housing Transfers

Emergency Transfers: Emergency transfers are only available for certain priority cases

• Victims of Domestic Violence

• Intimidated Victims

• Child Sexual Assault Victims

• Intimidated Witnesses

Like the process for new applications, victims of domestic violence must meet specific documentation criteria to receive a Public Housing transfer.

To request an emergency transfer, Public Housing tenants should contact Safe Horizon at 212-577-7777. Safe Horizon is contracted with NYCHA to provide assistance to tenants requiring emergency transfers.

Public Housing transfers can take up to six months or longer depending on availability of a comparably sized unit in a safe location. Public housing tenants must continue to pay rent on their NYCHA apartments as they wait for their transfer, even if they are living in shelter or elsewhere. If rental arrears are collected on a NYCHA apartment, the transfer request could be denied.

If the abuser is on the lease, it may be possible to bifurcate (split) the lease to allow non-offending family members to retain their housing assistance. Click here to read more about the bifurcation process.

Non-emergency Transfers: Non-emergency transfers are occasionally authorized for tenants experiencing changes to household size. Public Housing tenants should contact the NYCHA housing assistant in their development to request a transfer. Tenants may have to wait a long period of time before their transfer request is granted.

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Section 8 Transfers

Emergency Transfers : Emergency transfers are only available for certain priority cases:

• Victim of Domestic violence

• Intimidated Victims

• Individuals who need reasonable accommodation for a disability

• Individuals whose subsidy has been suspended for Housing Quality Standards (HQS) violations

• Individuals who are being evicted due to an expired lease in a non-regulated building

Like the process for new applications, victims of domestic violence must meet specific documentation criteria to receive a Section 8 transfer.

The following steps should be taken to receive a Section 8 transfer. (The help of an advocate is advised in this process). The Section 8 tenant should:

• Bring documentation of domestic violence incidents to their local Section 8 office and worker

• Make sure to get a receipt from the Section 8 worker verifying submittal of transfer request and documentation

• Follow up and check the status of the voucher request on a regular basis

Once the request is approved the Section 8 tenant should receive a transfer voucher within 6-8 weeks. Transfer vouchers are usually valid for 6 months and the same extension request rules apply as with new vouchers.

Section 8 tenants should apply for an emergency transfer as quickly as possible. Section 8 tenants who vacate their apartment for safety reasons prior to making a transfer request should work with an advocate to ensure that Section 8 does not penalize the tenant for leaving the apartment.

Non-emergency Transfers: In order to meet the basic requirements for a non-emergency transfer, tenants must have lived in the current apartment beyond the initial term of their first 2-year lease. In addition, the landlord must sign a document releasing the tenant from the current lease. Very few non-emergency transfers are processed by Section 8. Tenants requesting a non-emergency transfer will have to wait over a year for a transfer approval.

Portability: Section 8 tenants that are interested in moving outside of New York City’s 5 boroughs, must request “portability” when requesting a transfer. “Portability” is NYCHA’s term for transferring vouchers over to another city and/or state. In addition to navigating the portability process in the NYCHA Section 8 office, the Section 8 tenant will also need to make contact and determine the portability rules and process in the area to which she/he hopes to move. The portability process usually takes approximately two months.

If the abuser is on the lease, it may be possible to bifurcate (split) the lease to allow non-offending family members to retain their housing assistance. Click here to read more about the bifurcation process.

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HSP Transfers

There is currently no formal HSP transfer policy for HSP tenants. HSP tenants are bound by the two-year lease entered at the lease-signing regardless of their status with the HSP program. HSP households that are in need of a transfer for reasons of domestic violence should contact a non-residential domestic violence provider or the HousingLink HelpLine at 646-472-0262 for help advocating for a transfer.

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