This can be different at your shelter. Check with your caseworker.
Your next steps
For: Search
Some steps depend on who is in your household. Pick your household
Show landlords your Shopping Letter. Keep your Household Share Letter private.
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Show landlords and brokers your Shopping Letter. Keep your Household Share Letter to yourself.
Source: nyc.
gov · Checked Oct 11, 2026 Apartments: anywhere in New York State. Rooms and SROs: five boroughs only.
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You can rent a whole apartment anywhere in New York State. A room or an SRO must be in one of the five boroughs.
Source: nyc.
gov · Checked Oct 11, 2026 In a DHS shelter? Ask if DSS can pay application fees.
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Living in a DHS shelter? Ask your case manager if DSS can pay your apartment application fees.
Source: nyc.
gov · Checked Oct 11, 2026 A landlord can't refuse you for having CityFHEPS. Call 718‑557‑1399.
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A landlord or broker cannot turn you down because you have CityFHEPS. That is against the law. Report it to the DSS Source of Income Discrimination Unit: 718‑557‑1399.
Source: nyc.
gov · Checked Oct 11, 2026 Shopping Letter ending soon? Ask your case manager early for another.
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Is your Shopping Letter about to end? Ask your case manager about a new one early. A state audit found new letters were often late.
Source: osc.
ny. gov · Checked Oct 11, 2026