The Special One-Time Assistance (SOTA) program is a rental assistance program. The program will pay one year's full rent for eligible Department of Homeless Services (DHS) clients to move within New York City, to other New York State counties, or to another state, Puerto Rico, or Washington, D.C. SOTA is now approved for room rentals.

SOTA rental assistance payments are made directly to landlords on a monthly basis.  

Eligibility criteria for SOTA include the following:

• Families with children must have been in shelter at least 90 days.
• Single adults and adult families must have been in shelter for 90 days out of the last 365 days.
• SOTA is only provided to households whom Department of Social Services (DSS) has determined will likely have the future ability to pay the rent once they no longer have the SOTA grant to cover their rent. Households must have recurring income from employment, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits and a rent that does not exceed 40% of that current or projected income.  Households must provide proof of their income. 
• If the household is moving within New York City (only), it must NOT be eligible for any federal, state, or city rental subsidy.

Households and individuals in shelter can speak to their case manager or housing specialist to see if they qualify for SOTA.

Households that receive a SOTA grant and move out of their unit before the end of the SOTA period should promptly notify DSS.

• Agency: Human Resources Administration
• Phone Number: (718) 557-1399
• Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
• Staff is available during business hours (except on City holidays). You can get help in most languages. The automated phone system is always available.