Your next chapter
still matters.

Build a plan for the move date, rent you can afford, household size, accessibility needs and available temporary support. If you are low-income and at risk of entering NYC shelter, contact Homebase through your current ZIP-code provider. Homebase evaluates prevention and relocation needs. If you have nowhere safe to stay, contact 311 for the appropriate NYC shelter intake route; tell them whether children are in the household.

Ask for screening for CityFHEPS and, for qualifying families, FHEPS. A foreclosure action can be relevant to FHEPS, but the household must meet the other requirements. Vouchers are not automatically issued after losing a home, and an application is not approval.

SNAP helps eligible households buy food through an EBT benefit. Apply through ACCESS HRA, complete the requested interview and submit verification. If food and money are very limited, ask HRA about expedited screening. If you need food before a decision, call 311 for nearby food pantries and community meals.

Cash Assistance may help eligible households meet basic needs. Ask HRA about emergency assistance for the specific expense and circumstance. Apply through ACCESS HRA and follow interview and documentation instructions. Do not assume a grant covers every bill or that every payment is nonrepayable; review the written terms.

SSI is for eligible people with limited income and resources who are age 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability. Losing a home is not itself a qualifying disability. Apply directly with Social Security; SSA reviews the medical and financial requirements. Housing, income and resource changes may affect benefits, so report them and get advice about any sale proceeds before making financial decisions.

Use the ACCESS NYC benefits screener to identify other programs that may fit, including health coverage, utility assistance and family supports. Screening is a starting point, not a benefits decision. Have the responsible agency confirm current availability, household rules, deadlines and required documents.

1. List your urgent needs and deadlines.
2. Identify the agency and application route for each need.
3. Organize a checklist and keep submission receipts.
4. Track interviews, missing documents and decision letters.
5. Connect you with appropriate counseling or legal help when a denial, appeal or legal issue needs professional review.

Agency processing times vary. Share the actual notice and deadline promptly; don’t wait for a routine booking if an appeal or housing deadline is approaching.