Section 8 Application Portal Reopens after 15 Years

According to reports, more than 150,000 applications from New York City households were submitted in a span of 12 hours. The program that currently serves roughly 100,000 city households “has long been at maximum capacity, and the waiting list to receive assistance has been locked since 2009.” The reopening to new applicants comes at a time when the city is facing an escalated housing affordability crisis and an apartment vacancy rate of 1.4% last year — the lowest in more than 50 years. Although the city plans to add 200,000 households to the list, there is no guarantee that recipients of the coveted vouchers will find affordable housing since “recipients of Section 8 and other housing vouchers say it’s often difficult to find brokers who will assist them in finding a home and landlords who will accept the government assistance.”

Source:    https://www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-policy/nyc-gets-150k-applications-12-hours-section-8-vouchers