NYC Foster System: How To Find Affordable Housing in NYC

Finding housing when you’re aging out of foster care.

“You have to get out into it, because for housing, nobody is going to do it for you. You have to go out and find it yourself.”

Usually, case managers will emphasize NYCHA housing as the main option when you age out. Housing is scarce, but not everyone knows that there are other options they should look into.

CHECKLIST

Starting at age 16, check the Classified section of the newspaper every Sunday for NYCHA housing in normal tenement buildings.
If you’re planning on going to college, read more about the CUNY dorm housing program and apply if it fits your situation.
If you’re willing to look outside NYC, apply to Section 8 in other New York counties like Westchester, Rockland, Nassau, and Suffolk.
Read more about Habitat for Humanity housing. If it fits your needs, work with your case worker to write them a letter telling your story.
Apply to everything else you possibly qualify for.

NYCHA

You can apply to and read more about NYCHA here. It’s probably the simplest application process, but let’s face it, most of the sites can be dangerous. It’s worse for newcomers, since long-time residents will know they’re new to the system. LGBT youth and young women are especially at risk.

But not all NYCHA housing is in the projects. There are occasionally NYCHA apartments available in normal tenement buildings. Every Sunday, check the Classified section of the newspaper. Look under NYC Housing Developments under the Affordable Housing subsection and apply to any housing according to the instructions. Start as early as possible, even if you’re just 16 years old.

Also keep an eye out for HDFC housing. This is housing that the landlord hasn’t taken care of and the tenants have purchased it back from them at a very, very low price. They are fairly rare, but if you find one these apartments can be purchased very cheaply.

“Apply for everything they offer you so you can weigh your options.”

Section 8

“Most of the time they’re paying 80% of your rent. They want you to help you get something better.”

Everybody knows that Section 8 is always full, right? While that might be true for New York City, few people know that you can apply to other counties as well. If it fits your needs, you can apply to Westchester, Rockland, Nassau, and Suffolk counties too. They tend to have more openings than NYC.

With Section 8, most people know they’ll contribute to your rent. But if you’re in school, they’ll also take part of your rent and put it in a fund. At a certain point they will help you use that money as a down payment for a house of your own.

CUNY Dorm Housing

“Apply to everything. Even applying to being on the dorm. If you don’t want to be in supportive housing or NYCHA, then there are programs to put you in the dorms.”

If you’d like to attend college, you should look at CUNY schools. ACS started a new program with the CUNY school system that dormitory housing and extra financial support until you’re 23 years old. It is a great program for your transition but you should keep applying to other options for after college.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat’s mission is to improve people’s lives by providing housing to first-time homeowners. In this program, you work with them to build your own house to own. At the end, you get an affordable mortgage. If you’re interested, work with your case worker to write a really nice letter to them. Some also start as Habitat for Humanity volunteers and eventually qualify for the program themselves.

You’ll have to really market yourself. Your case worker needs to be your main advocate.

TOPICS

This is an project developed at #hackfostercarenyc and based off interviews from youth from the foster care system. It is not written or endorsed by the NYC Administration for Children’s Service.