Charities

Do I qualify for charity assistance?

To qualify for rent arrears assistance from charities, you must meet four criteria: you must have a case in housing court or a rent demand from your landlord explain how you fell...

How do I get in touch with charities?

Call our hotline at 212-962-4795 for a screening. If you qualify, we will tell you which charities have funds, what requirements they have, and how to contact them. We can also explain...

What information will I have to provide when I apply for help from a charity?

When you call our hotline or a charity, you may be asked about your Housing Court case, how much rent you pay each month, how much total income you have, how much...

Be able to prove that you can pay future rent.

You must show that you have enough income to pay the future rent. You might need to increase your income (find a job, get a third party, apply for public benefits), or...

Be able to explain how you fell behind.

You must explain why you fell behind. The reason might be that you lost your job, your hours at work were cut, you or a family member had a medical crisis or...

Make sure your arrears are not too high.

If you have very high arrears you may not be able to find help. You may be expected to show that you can contribute some money towards the rent arrears.

Try to work out a payment plan with the landlord.

If you owe back rent but have not been taken to Housing Court, contact your landlord to try to make a payment plan. If a Housing Court case has been started, the...

Be prepared to call many places and put in many applications.

Many charities can only help with only one month of back rent. You may have to speak with more than one charity, as well as HRA, to come up with a package...