RAP Rental Assistance Program from the NYC Coalition for the Homeless
The nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless remains one of the leading organizations in New York City focused on preventing evictions and assisting people who are homeless or at risk. The RAP program (Rental Assistance Program) can provide qualified low-income families with a subsidy that pays a portion of their housing costs. In addition to this financial help, the Coalition offers budgeting support, counseling, and long-term case management so families can become stable - learn more on what RAP is and how to apply below.
What is the RAP (Rental Assistance Program) from the Coalition for the Homeless?
The RAP program is operated by the Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit deeply involved in eviction prevention, housing stability, and support services for vulnerable New Yorkers. Applicants in NYC often include families who are homeless, living in domestic-violence shelters, single moms or otherwise in unstable housing.
Under RAP, eligible low-income families receive a subsidy toward monthly rent and related housing expenses. These subsidies are not indefinite; they are intended as a bridge that helps recipients stabilize their housing while working toward self-sufficiency. Alongside financial aid, RAP participants receive case management, job support, financial counseling, and other services. Here’s how the program generally works.
- RAP can provide a monthly subsidy. This historically amounts like $300 for single individuals or $450 for families. The money is to be paid directly to the landlord, with some additional support to pay a security deposit if needed and qualified.
- The subsidy is often paired with conditions. An some examples, participants typically must find and sign a lease agreement within a defined timeframe and agree to regular check-ins, casework, and job readiness or education programming.
- The financial assistance may take the form of a grant or loan, depending on the case, with other options around loans to pay rent as well.
- RAP support usually lasts for a limited term (e.g., up to 24 months), and Coalition case managers often continue outreach even after financial support ends, to help participants remain stable.
- Eligibility is generally limited to very low income households, often those in crisis (e.g., threatened with eviction or in transitional situations).
Individuals or applying need to be working and hold some type job. Participants will need to find and sign a lease for their own low income, affordable apartments within one to two months of receiving the subsidy in which the job supports that rent. As noted, there may also be some help paying the security deposit on an affordable rental unit. The Coalition for the Homeless also needs to “approve” said lease.
Because the funds are limited, not everyone who qualifies can necessarily be served immediately. The Coalition’s Eviction Prevention program, linked to RAP’s work, only handles a fixed number of cases each week. So while this subsidy is very limited in both dollar amounts available as well as the number of families that can be assisted, the bottom line is the Coalition for the Homeless will do what it can to assist the less fortunate.
Ongoing support for people using the RAP program
The case management from Coalition for the Homeless is often key to the RAP program. Staff from the coalition work closely with participants and families from New York City in an effort to create and implement strategies to increase their earnings potential, job skills, and overall ability to make their rent payment independently on their own in the future.
So this covers a wide range of issues, such as educational or vocational training programs. Get help in developing a long term financial plan, assistance with locating a higher paying job, and assisting with resume building. You will tackle a broad range of issues that often accompany evictions and homelessness.
As part of the RAP subsidy, case managers from Coalition for the Homeless will also stay in contact with participants for up to two years, even after the financial assistance ends. They want to ensure the client remains stable and self-sufficient. So this can in fact serve as a long term resource.
Apply for help from the NYC Coalition for the Homeless
For more information on this Coalition for the Homeless rental program, or for other possible solutions, call the Coalition for the Homeless at 212-776-2000. The main office is at 129 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038, or even email them at [email protected].
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