N.Y. Public Housing Law § 609: Payment of housing vouchers

* § 609. Payment of housing vouchers. 1. The housing voucher shall be

paid directly to any owner under a contract between the owner of the

dwelling unit to be occupied by the voucher recipient and the

appropriate housing access voucher local administrator. The commissioner

shall determine the form of the housing assistance payment contract and

the method of payment. A housing assistance payment contract entered

into pursuant to this section shall establish the payment standard

(including utilities and all maintenance and management charges) which

the owner is entitled to receive for each dwelling unit with respect to

which such assistance payments are to be made. The payment standard

shall not exceed one hundred twenty percent nor be less than ninety

percent of the fair market rent for the rental area in which it is

located. Fair market rent shall be determined pursuant to the procedures

and standards as set forth in the Federal Housing Choice voucher

program, as set forth in the applicable sections of Part 888 of Title 24

of the Code of Federal Regulations. Fair market rent for a rental area

shall be published not less than annually by the commissioner and shall

be made available on the website of New York state homes and community

renewal.

2. A housing assistance payment contract entered into pursuant to

subdivision one of this section may provide for an initial payment of up

to five months of rent arrears that have accrued during prior occupancy

of a dwelling unit by a voucher recipient if such payment of arrears is

necessary to continue such voucher recipient's occupancy of such

dwelling unit, and thereby prevent imminent loss of housing.

* NB Expires May 1, 2030