For the first time in 15 years, New York City is set to open the waiting list for a key rental assistance program to help more residents find affordable places to live.

The federal Section 8 program, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher program, pays the bulk of the rent for low-income recipients who usually contribute 30% of their income toward the total cost. But demand for a limited number of vouchers has remained extremely high, prompting New York City to lock its waitlist in 2009 — three mayors ago.

The city’s decision to reopen the waitlist comes as more New Yorkers struggle to pay the rent amid a dire affordable housing shortage and as the city’s shelter population reaches record highs.

Mayor Eric Adams first mentioned reopening the waitlist during his State of the City address in January.

“We will help more people get into homes and stay in their homes once they are there,” Adams said at the time, adding that the city would issue “1,000 vouchers a month” later this year.

Roughly 100,000 households across the five boroughs already use Section 8 vouchers to help pay the rent. Soon, the city will add 200,000 additional families and individuals to the waitlist when new vouchers open up.

Leila Bozorg, the city’s executive director for housing, said earlier this month that reopening the waitlist will give thousands of New Yorkers the chance to find and afford an apartment.

“Having a place to call home is foundational to New Yorkers’ daily lives, and we know housing cost can be a major barrier to accessing quality housing,” Bozorg said.

But first, New Yorkers have to apply to get on the waitlist. Here’s what applicants need to know.

When does the application period begin?

The New York City Housing Authority will begin accepting Section 8 applications online at midnight on Monday, June 3.

The application period lasts just six days, so don’t delay in submitting your paperwork. The city’s portal will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 9.

Applicants can also request paper application forms at two in-person locations: NYCHA’s Brooklyn Customer Contact Center on the second floor of 787 Atlantic Ave. and the Bronx Customer Contact Center on the second floor of 478 East Fordham Rd.

Wait, I thought NYCHA was a public housing agency. Why is it involved?

It is a little confusing because although NYCHA runs the country's biggest public housing system, it also administers most of New York City's Section 8 program.

Two other city and state agencies issue Section 8 vouchers, too, but not nearly as many as NYCHA.

People who get Section 8 vouchers use them to pay the rent in privately owned apartments, not public housing.

But residents of NYCHA public housing can also apply for the Section 8 vouchers.

How do I know if I qualify?

Section 8 recipients qualify for the aid based on their income.

Individuals qualify if they earn less than $54,350 annually. A two-person household qualifies if its annual earnings are less than $62,150, while the limit is $69,000 for families of three and $77,650 for families of four.

For a full income breakdown of larger households, visit the city’s application information page.

In addition, the head of the household must be 18 or older and the household must include a U.S. citizen or member with an eligible immigration status, per federal rules.

Opening the waitlist could give tens of thousands of New Yorkers the chance to secure affordable housing, said Homeless Services United Executive Director Kristin Miller.

“With over 70,000 individuals and families homeless in New York City and such an extremely tight housing market, having the ability to get rental assistance is life-changing for these families,” Miller said.

She said the program is considered the “gold standard” rental subsidy because it never runs out as long as recipients meet income rules and complete recertification documents.

The program also features strict housing quality and inspection rules.

What happens after I apply?

After the application portal closes on June 9, NYCHA says it will select 200,000 applicants for its Section 8 waitlist through a random draw.

The agency will notify applicants if they are selected for the waitlist after Aug. 1.

Down the road, NYCHA will begin selecting people from the waitlist for available Section 8 vouchers.

At that point, they will request additional information, such as identification and income documents.

Once the applicant submits those, NYCHA will run background checks on household members over 15 and schedule an eligibility interview.

What if I’m already on the Section 8 waitlist?

You will remain on the waitlist as long as you continue to renew your application through NYCHA’s online portal every two years.

What happens if I get picked for a Section 8 voucher?

Next comes the hard part: finding an available apartment. Section 8 recipients have 120 days to secure a place to live, but they can receive a 60-day extension if they’re struggling to find a landlord who will rent to them.

The vouchers guarantee rent for landlords, but New York City’s tight housing market means not everyone with a voucher can actually use it.