COVID Rent Relief Program

December 18, 2020

Housing, Construction and Community Development

Application Period Is Open; 4 Months of Rent Relief Available for Eligible Households

The COVID Rent Relief Program has reopened. It will accept new applications beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2020 through Monday, February 1, 2021.

The program’s eligibility criteria have been expanded to provide rent relief to more New Yorkers. Individuals, who applied during the previous application window and were denied, do not need to apply again. Those applications are being reevaluated. Applications from individuals who have not received a response from HCR yet are being reviewed under the new criteria.

Passed by the Senate on May 28, 2020, and sponsored by Senator Brian Kavanagh, S8419 was signed into law by the governor and established the COVID Rent Relief Program. The program provides a one-time rent subsidy paid directly to landlords of applicant households. Applicants will not be required to repay this assistance. For assistance, eligibility details and to access the application, visit the HCR website.