SOTA (One-Shot Deal) for Rent in NYC: How It Works

If you're in a New York City homeless shelter and have income from a job, SSI, or SSD, you might qualify for SOTA, which stands for Special One-Time Assistance. The program pays one full year of rent upfront to help you move out of shelter and into permanent housing.

SOTA is often confused with the general "One Shot Deal" emergency assistance program (which helps with rent arrears and other emergencies), but they're actually different programs with different purposes. This guide focuses specifically on SOTA and how it can help shelter residents with income get into stable housing.

What Is SOTA?

SOTA is a rental assistance program run by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and Human Resources Administration (HRA) that covers 12 months of rent for eligible shelter clients. Unlike ongoing voucher programs like CityFHEPS or Section 8, SOTA is a one-time payment covering a single year of rent. After that year ends, you're responsible for paying rent on your own.

The program is designed for people who already have enough income to afford rent long-term but need help bridging the gap from shelter to permanent housing. The idea is that if you can demonstrate you'll be able to pay rent after the first year, SOTA removes the barrier of not having savings for a security deposit and first month's rent.

SOTA can be used to move anywhere: within New York City, to other New York State counties, to other states, to Puerto Rico, or to Washington D.C.

Who Qualifies for SOTA?

Eligibility requirements include:

Shelter residency:

Families with children must have been in shelter for at least 90 days

Single adults and adult families must have been in shelter for 90 days out of the last 365 days

Income requirements:

You must have recurring income from employment, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability (SSD), or other income sources

Your income cannot exceed 80% of the New York City Area Median Income (AMI)

The rent for the apartment you're moving into cannot be more than 40% of your household income

Not eligible for other programs (for NYC moves):

If you're moving within New York City, you cannot be eligible for any federal, state, or city rental subsidy like Section 8 or CityFHEPS

The key concept behind SOTA eligibility is that DSS needs to determine you'll likely be able to afford rent on your own after the one-year assistance period ends. If you have stable income and the rent is affordable relative to that income (40% or less), you're a good candidate.

How SOTA Differs from One Shot Deal (Emergency Assistance)

People often use "one shot deal" as a general term for SOTA, but there's actually a separate program called One Shot Deal or Emergency Assistance that serves a different purpose.

One Shot Deal (Emergency Assistance): This is a one-time emergency grant that can help pay rent arrears, utility bills, moving expenses, or other emergency costs. It's available to people in the community (not just shelter residents) who face an unexpected situation. You may have to pay some or all of it back. You apply through ACCESS HRA or an HRA Benefits Access Center.

SOTA (Special One-Time Assistance): This pays one full year of rent upfront to help shelter residents with income move into permanent housing. It's specifically for DHS shelter clients. You don't repay it, and it's designed as a pathway out of shelter rather than emergency relief.

If you're in shelter, talk to your case manager or housing specialist about SOTA eligibility. If you're in the community facing an emergency like eviction, a One Shot Deal through HRA might be the right option instead.

How to Apply for SOTA

You can't apply for SOTA directly on your own. The process works through your shelter:

• Talk to your case manager or housing specialist. They identify clients who may be eligible for SOTA based on income and shelter history. If you think you qualify, bring it up with them.

• Provide proof of income. You'll need to document your employment income, SSI, SSD, or other recurring income. The rent you're searching for must be no more than 40% of this income.

• Search for housing. Housing specialists can assist with your apartment search, but you can also find units on your own. For moves within NYC and certain nearby counties, the apartment must pass a walkthrough inspection using a comprehensive checklist.

• Complete the approval process. Once you've found an apartment that meets the requirements, your housing specialist will help finalize the paperwork. This includes a participant agreement for you and a landlord agreement for the property owner.

Where Can You Use SOTA?

SOTA is flexible about location:

Within NYC: Apartments must pass a DHS walkthrough inspection. Room rentals are allowed for households with one or two adults and no children (utilities must be included, and the room cannot be in a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled unit).

Nearby counties (NY and NJ): Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester counties in New York, plus Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic, and Union counties in New Jersey all require walkthroughs.

Other locations: You can use SOTA to move to other New York State counties, other states, Puerto Rico, or Washington D.C. The inspection requirements may differ for these locations.

Moving out of NYC can make sense if you have family support elsewhere, if rents are lower, or if you have job opportunities in another area. The 40% affordability rule still applies regardless of where you move.

What Happens During the SOTA Year?

Once you're approved and move in:

Landlord payments: Starting in February 2020 for new participants, SOTA rental payments are made to landlords on a monthly basis (not a lump sum upfront).

Aftercare support: If you run into problems during the year, you can call the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399. They can help if:

You're having maintenance issues the landlord won't fix

You're facing eviction or threats of eviction

Your income changes and you need help finding services

You need guidance on other community resources (like registering a child for school)

Eviction protection: If your landlord tries to evict you during the first year, you can get a referral to a lawyer who can represent you in housing court. The landlord agreement requires them to return any excess funds if you're evicted.

What Happens After the SOTA Year Ends?

After 12 months, you're responsible for paying rent on your own. This is why the 40% affordability rule matters, DSS needs to be confident you can sustain the rent independently.

If your income changes during or after the SOTA period:

Call the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399 for referrals to job training or career services

If you're in NYC, visit your local Homebase office or HRA Benefits Access Center for assistance

As a last resort, you can reapply for shelter after your 12-month SOTA period ends, though very few people have needed to do this

Can You Get SOTA More Than Once?

No. SOTA is a one-time program. You can only receive it once in your lifetime.

What Landlords Should Know About SOTA

If you're a landlord considering a SOTA tenant:

Payment structure: You'll receive monthly rental payments from HRA for the one-year SOTA period. The full amount of monthly rent is covered (up to the amount specified in the agreement).

Landlord agreement: You'll sign a SOTA Landlord Agreement that outlines your obligations, including notifying HRA within 5 business days if the tenant leaves and returning any excess funds.

Good cause requirement: If the unit previously had a SOTA tenant (or, within NYC, a FHEPS or CityFHEPS tenant), you cannot receive financial incentives for a new SOTA participant unless you can show good cause for not renewing the previous tenant.

Unit standards: For moves within NYC and nearby counties, the apartment must pass a walkthrough inspection. Even if it fails initially, corrections can be made and the unit re-inspected.

SOTA tenants have demonstrated income and affordability, which means they're positioned to continue paying rent after the one-year period. For landlords, this offers the security of guaranteed payments for a year plus a tenant who has been screened for long-term affordability.

Resources

• SOTA main page (NYC HRA)
• SOTA FAQ (PDF)
• SOTA documents (participant and landlord agreements)
• One Shot Deal / Emergency Assistance (different program for emergencies)
• Homebase locations
• DSS OneNumber: 718-557-1399

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Looking for housing that accepts vouchers and assistance programs? Browse voucher-friendly listings from landlords who welcome housing assistance.

Landlord interested in SOTA tenants? List your property on VoucherMatch and connect with tenants who have income and are ready to move.