Understanding FHEPS



Homelessness and Eviction Protection - Understanding FHEPS

Facing homelessness or eviction put families and individuals under a lot of stress and pressure, and navigating the systems that can help you can be confusing. In this blog, the Outerbridge Law team will explain all you need to know about New York's FHEPS program, eligibility, rental assistance, and more. Let's jump right in! 

What’s the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement? 

The Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement, also known as FHEPS, is a rent supplement for families who receive Cash Assistance and who have been evicted or are currently facing eviction, or who have lost their housing as a result of domestic violence. FHEPS is also available to families who have lost their housing due to health or safety issues, or as a result of certain court decisions. 

FHEPS can be used in order to assist families in staying in their home, moving into New York City, or moving out of a shelter if they have already lost their home. If families qualify for FHEPS, part of their rent will be paid by a FHEPS supplement which is given directly to your landlord. This payment is in addition to the allowance given to families by their Cash Assistance case. 

While FHEPS will assist in paying rent, if there is someone in the household that has an income, families may be required to pay part of the rent. 

How to Apply for the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement 

If the family is not in a shelter and is at risk of eviction or homelessness, a request can be submitted for help with overdue rent. These requests can be submitted online using ACCESS HRA or in person at the local Job Center. 

Do You Qualify To Receive the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement? 

In order to qualify for FHEPS, families must include a child who is under the age of 18, a child who is under the age of 19 and is also enrolled full time in high school or a vocational or technical program, or a pregnant person. 

Families must have an active Cash Assistance case or, if they’re in a shelter, qualify for Cash Assistance after leaving the shelter. 

Families must also meet one of the following requirements: 

  • Family is in an HRA shelter 

  • Family is in a DHS shelter and eligible for a HRA shelter 

  • Family is in a DHS shelter and was evicted in New York City sometime in the year before entering a shelter 

  • Family is currently in the process of being evicted in New York City, were evicted in New York City within the last 12 months, or have received a rent demand letter from the respective landlord or management company. 

What Does Eviction Mean? 

Eviction can mean any of the following: 

  • An eviction proceeding against the family for their home. 

  • A foreclosure action for a family's building or home. 

  • A determination by a City agency that a family must leave their building or home due to health and/or safety reasons.

If I Qualify for FHEPS, How Will I Know How Much Supplement I Will Receive? 

The amount of a household’s FHEPS rent supplement will depend on both the household’s income as well as the number of people in the household. This amount will be decided once a family’s FHEPS application is approved. 

Although it may be ideal for a family’s entire rent to be covered by the supplement, this will not be the case if: 

  • Someone in the household receives Cash Assistance and has an income. 

  • Someone in the household is not required to be on the Cash Assistance case.

 In these cases, families must pay the difference between what the HRA pays through the supplement and the total amount of your rent. 

If I Qualify for FHEPS, How Long Will I Receive the Supplement? 

Families who are eligible for FHEPS can continue to receive the supplement for up to five years. Families may also apply for an extension of the supplement if they require additional assistance. However, in order to qualify for this extension, families must continue to meet all requirements and have proof of valid cause for the extension. 

Can I Stay In My Apartment If I Have Unpaid Rent? 

In order to receive payments for unpaid rent, families must be able to stay in their apartment for at least 12 more months and have a lease or agreement in writing from the landlord or management company. 

If eligible, a supplement payment of up to $20,000 may be issued on behalf of the family in order to pay the family’s portion of unpaid rent for any period of time where the family lived in the apartment. If a request is made for a payment that is greater than $20,000, it will be considered on a case-by-case basis. There is no guarantee these requests will be granted. 

Additional Information On the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement 

If there are changes in a family’s case, these must be reported to the HRA as these changes may increase or decrease your FHEPS rent supplement. Families must report the following changes: 

  • A change in the cost of rent. 

  • The landlord or person that the rent is made out to changes. 

  • The number of people on the family’s Cash Assistance case changes. 

  • The income of the people living in the household changes. 

A Family’s FHEPS rent supplement will cease if any of the following occurs:

  • The family no longer has a Cash Assistance case. 

  • The family no longer has a child who is under the age of 18, a child who is  under the age of 19 and is also enrolled full time in high school or a vocational or technical program.

These changes must be reported to the HRA within 10 days. These changes may change the amount of the family’s shelter allowance, FHEPS benefits, or their eligibility to receive FHEPS. 

If a family is currently in a shelter, their FHEPS provider or case manager will explain FHEPS and assist in the search for an apartment. Families in shelters who are approved for FHEPS are also eligible to receive a furniture allowance. Landlords will receive one month’s rent along with an additional three month’s rent from the HRA as well as a security voucher.

Facing Eviction? Outerbridge Law Can Help

If you believe you’re being wrongfully evicted, don’t wait to get help; contact Outerbridge Law today for a landlord-tenant lawyer you can trust.