Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. hosted representatives from Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens at his District Office on June 6, 2024, to help constituents apply for Section 8 housing on a one-on-one basis by appointment only. 

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) re-opened the waitlist for its Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program from June 3rd – June 9th. 

“This is a small, but important, window of opportunity for those in need to apply for housing assistance,” Addabbo said. “That is why I am providing this important service so people can navigate this system which can be complicated at times.”

NHSQ was able to assist a number of individuals during the 6-hour event. Most of the constituents were excited to fill out the application as it was open for the first time in 15 years, according to NHSQ Community Outreach Coordinator Carlos Chacon, who was on-site helping that day. 

Some of them had already been applying to other forms of affordable housing such as Housing Connect. They were curious about the difference in the applications between Section 8 and Housing Connect, Chacon said, and they had a variety of questions about eligibility and next steps. 

“They were grateful to the senator's office to give this opportunity to let them come in, in-person to do so,” Chacon said. 

Chacon was joined by NHSQ intern, Jeremy Colon.