Federal housing support includes housing assistance for renters, subsidized public housing, and a variety of housing support for the homeless. Households benefitting from rental assistance or public housing typically must meet certain income limits and pay rent equal to 30 percent of household income, the affordability benchmark established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In 2024, there were 1 million New Yorkers benefitting from subsidized housing programs statewide, according to HUD.The three most significant programs were Housing Choice Vouchers, commonly referred to as “Section 8;” public housing and project-based Section 8. Housing Choice Vouchers are subsidies provided directly to the beneficiary, while project-based subsidies are tied to the unit or building.
Based on average monthly HUD expenditures per unit, HUD subsidies totaled $10.1 billion for these households in 2024. This funding does not go through the State’s budget; rather, it is provided directly to households and landlords. Federal funding is instrumental in alleviating housing cost burdens in a state where 51 percent of renters were rent-burdened and 28 percent were severely rent-burdened in 2023. Severely rent burdened households pay gross rent in excess of 50 percent of household income.
Major Federal Housing Assistance Programs, 2024
| Program | Subsidized Units | Residents | Average Monthly Hud Expenditure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Choice Vouchers | 286,865 | 526,728 | $1,448 |
| Project Based Section 8 | 108,840 | 160,481 | $1,740 |
| Public Housing | 175,986 | 293,471 | $1,272 |
| All Other Programs | 16,950 | 20,050 | NA |
| Total | 588,641 | 1,000,730 | $1,435 |
Note: All Other programs include Project Rental Assistance Contracts, Moderate Rehabilitation Contracts, and Section 236 Preservation Programs.
Source: HUD, Picture of Subsidized Households
Individuals Receiving Housing Assistance, 2024
Source: HUD, Picture of Subsidized Households
- Data Table
District
Housing Choice Vouchers
Project-Based Section 8
Public Housing
Albany County 6,585
2,556
2,390
Allegany County 203
0
0
Bronx County 114,703
27,922
61,440
Broome County 2,071
821
1,093
Cattaraugus County 742
102
627
Cayuga County 1,638
501
–
Chautauqua County 1,981
1,092
641
Chemung County 1,955
862
617
Chenango County 424
164
147
Clinton County 1,171
329
1,078
Columbia County 722
607
–
Cortland County 458
204
445
Delaware County 963
249
–
Dutchess County 5,049
1,350
884
Erie County 20,880
8,350
6,711
Essex County 506
174
–
Franklin County 1,090
189
570
Fulton County 819
102
382
Genesee County 949
200
314
Greene County 460
185
205
Hamilton County –
–
–
Herkimer County 1,248
541
–
Jefferson County 2,034
1,102
1,280
Kings County 116,882
28,463
79,562
Lewis County 475
85
–
Livingston County 535
386
–
Madison County 1,007
198
–
Monroe County 17,894
5,264
2,587
Montgomery County 1,674
530
161
Nassau County 9,305
4,167
3,754
New York County 36,584
28,466
79,096
Niagara County 3,350
1,768
1,817
Oneida County 5,280
2,127
1,797
Onondaga County 10,537
3,240
4,013
Ontario County 1,602
831
103
Orange County 17,687
1,023
398
Orleans County 379
180
–
Oswego County 2,465
363
108
Otsego County 359
118
–
Putnam County 863
65
–
Queens County 27,163
8,444
28,041
Rensselaer County 4,039
948
447
Richmond County 9,824
5,122
5,835
Rockland County 20,504
2,677
319
Saratoga County 3,001
504
449
Schenectady County 3,795
1,074
1,213
Schoharie County 419
–
–
Schuyler County 110
76
–
Seneca County 737
87
–
St. Lawrence County 929
473
1,161
Steuben County 1,325
936
95
Suffolk County 17,128
3,141
–
Sullivan County 3,312
952
119
Tioga County 356
79
–
Tompkins County 3,915
43
326
Ulster County 3,995
835
119
Warren County 1,178
653
–
Washington County 640
90
–
Wayne County 1,285
557
–
Westchester County 27,880
8,725
3,131
Wyoming County 248
36
–
Yates County 190
20
–