N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 26-3903: § 26-3903 Eligibility.

a. A household that meets the following criteria shall be eligible for the rental assistance voucher program established pursuant to this chapter:

1. An income-eligible tenant or lawful occupant of a unit, who is named as a respondent in a pending eviction proceeding for nonpayment of rent in housing court, provided that such unit is subject to rent stabilization. A tenant or lawful occupant is not eligible if such unit is subject to a regulatory agreement;

2. An income-eligible household who is residing in a shelter operated by or on behalf of an agency other than the department of social services or human resources administration; or

3. An income-eligible household residing in a shelter operated by or on behalf of the department of social services or human resources administration but whose income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level or who does not work enough hours to meet the work requirements set forth in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (8) of subdivision (a) of section 10-04 of title 68 of the rules of the city of New York or successor provision.

b. The department shall verify that a household is income-eligible.

c. The department shall not consider whether a household is employed as a condition of eligibility.

d. A household who receives a rental assistance voucher pursuant to this chapter shall annually certify its income for the purpose of determining continued eligibility and any adjustments to such rental assistance.

e. A household meeting the criteria in paragraph 1 of subdivision a of this section shall not use such a rental assistance voucher to move from its current unit to a new unit except in cases where such move (i) is necessary for a reasonable accommodation of a disability, (ii) is necessary to enable the household to leave a situation of domestic violence, provided that the household assisted by such voucher does not include the perpetrator of such violence, or (iii) in other extraordinary health and safety circumstances as determined by the commissioner of housing preservation and development.

(L.L. 2026/126, 7/30/2026, eff. 1/26/2027)