The federal shutdown may be over, but it is still wreaking havoc on low-income New Yorkers.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development told the New York City Housing Authority and others on Tuesday that funding for the Section 8 rental assistance program will be delayed this month in the aftermath of the shutdown.
The Section 8 program provides federal dollars to landlords who lease units to low-income tenants in order to subsidize the rent. Typically, someone in the Section 8 program is required to pay about 30 percent of their income toward housing and the government picks up the rest.
The city housing authority manages the program.
“Following notice from HUD that payments to Section 8 landlords would be delayed this month, NYCHA is assessing interim options and will distribute funding as soon as it becomes available from HUD,” they agency said in a statement Tuesday evening.
NYCHA said it would begin making the payments as soon as it receives the funding from HUDl
“NYCHA extends its sincere apologies for any inconvenience incurred as a result of the delayed distribution of Section 8 funds,” the public housing authority said in its statement. “We will continue to work with HUD and update tenants and landlords accordingly in the weeks to come.”
The federal shutdown – which became the longest in the nation’s history before ending last month – threatened funding for social services for low-income Americans, including food and rental assistance.
HUD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
