FHEPS eligibility for families includes these requirements, among others.

Families that qualify for FHEPS must include:

• A child under 18 years of age,
• A child 18 years of age who is enrolled full time in high school, or a vocational or technical training program, OR
• A pregnant woman

Families qualifying for FHEPS must also:

• Live in or be eligible to live in an HRA shelter
• Live in a DHS shelter after being evicted from their home sometime in the year before they entered shelter
• Have lost their housing because of a domestic violence situation
• Have lost their housing because of health or safety issues, OR
• Be facing eviction or have been evicted in NYC within the past 12 months.

Families must have an active Cash Assistance case or qualify for Cash Assistance once they leave a homeless shelter.

If you live in a shelter, you can get help applying for FHEPS from your case manager or housing specialist.

If you want to stay in your current residence, the HRA Homelessness Diversion Unit (HDU) at your Benefits Access Center (formerly known as Job Center) will initiate your FHEPS application and refer it for a final FHEPS eligibility determination.

The HRA Homelessness Diversion Unit (HDU) at your Benefits Access Center (formerly known as Job Center) can submit requests to modify an existing FHEPS grant or restore a closed FHEPS grant. 

You can request a modification to your FHEPS grant if your income, rent expense, or household composition changes.

You can request a restoration of your FHEPS grant if it ended within the last 12 months and your family is still eligible for FHEPS.