NYC One Shot Deal 2026–27: How HRA's Emergency Grant Works, What to Bring and Repayment
Updated: 12 hours ago
Behind on rent in New York City? HRA's One Shot Deal can pay back rent, and you don't need an eviction notice to apply. Here is how it works from application to repayment.
AT A GLANCE
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Most New Yorkers who need a One Shot Deal find out about it the hard way. Someone mentions it in a Housing Court hallway, or a caseworker brings it up after a rent demand notice arrives. You don't have to wait that long. HRA's own flyer says you don't need an eviction notice or a court case to apply. If you're behind and know you can't catch up alone, you can apply now, and HRA says the sooner you apply, the better.
This guide walks through the One Shot Deal in the order you'll experience it: deciding whether your situation fits, putting together the documents, applying on ACCESS HRA, the required interview, the decision, and repayment. Everything comes from HRA's Cash Assistance page, HRA's One Shot Deal flyer (FLY-1140), ACCESS NYC and NYC311, all read directly in October 2026.
What a One Shot Deal Is
"One Shot Deal" is the common name for Emergency Assistance from the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA). HRA's flyer calls it an Emergency Assistance grant for low-income New Yorkers in a crisis. It also says these grants are regularly used to pay back rent and prevent an eviction.
You don't have to already get Cash Assistance to qualify. The flyer is direct about that. But you do apply through the Cash Assistance application, which surprises a lot of people (more on that below).
Step 1: Check Whether Your Emergency Fits
HRA, ACCESS NYC and NYC311 all describe the same five situations Emergency Assistance can help with:
You're homeless or will lose your housing without help. NYC311 adds receiving a rent demand notice.
Your gas or electricity has been shut off, or you got a notice that it will be.
You lost clothes, personal items or furniture to theft, fire or a natural disaster.
You're affected by domestic violence.
You have other health and safety issues affecting you or your family.
ACCESS NYC frames it as help for people who can't pay bills because they lost a job, are earning less or had another emergency, such as an unexpected medical bill.
How HRA decides
There's no published income chart. ACCESS NYC says eligibility is decided case by case, and lists the factors HRA may weigh:
Earned and unearned income
Household size
The reason for the need, such as a job loss
Savings and other resources
Whether your housing is affordable
Disability
A plan to pay the expense going forward
Citizenship or immigration status
For rent arrears, HRA's flyer narrows it down to four things: the need and the documents behind it, a plan and the income to pay future rent, whether the housing is affordable, and any extra "at-risk" factors such as disability.
That "future plan" factor is where many applications succeed or fail.
You don't need an eviction notice or a court case to apply. The sooner you apply, the better.
HRA's Cash Assistance page says that for some types of Emergency Assistance, you may need to prove you'll be able to pay that bill in the future, or that someone will help you pay it. If your rent is now more than your income, show what will change. That could be a new job offer, an increase in benefits, a roommate's contribution in writing, or another rent subsidy you're applying for.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
HRA's flyer lists what you need for a rent-arrears One Shot Deal:
Document | What HRA's flyer says |
|---|---|
Lease | In the applicant's name, or confirmation from the landlord or Housing Court that your tenancy will continue once the arrears are paid |
Rent proof | Rent bills or landlord letters showing the monthly rent and the amount owed, or a court order |
Income and resources | Documents showing current income and resources for everyone in the household |
Identity | Proof of identity for each adult, such as a birth certificate, photo ID or passport |
Social Security | Your SSN, or proof you applied for one |
Status | Proof of citizenship or immigration status |
ACCESS NYC adds copies of any court orders and notes that HRA requests specific documents case by case. NYC311 says HRA staff will tell you at your interview which documents you need to submit.
Two tips
If your lease isn't in your name, get the landlord's written confirmation that you can stay once the arrears are paid. The flyer accepts this in place of a lease in your name.
Make the arrears math easy to follow. Get a landlord letter or rent ledger that shows the monthly rent and the total owed. HRA's checks go directly to the landlord or Housing Court, so the amounts must match.
Step 3: Apply on ACCESS HRA
HRA recommends applying online through ACCESS HRA. The key thing to know is that you apply through the Cash Assistance application, but you choose One Shot Deal as the benefit you want. The flyer gives these steps:
Go to ACCESS HRA and log in, or create an account.
Click Benefits in the menu.
Choose Start a New Application.
Choose Cash Assistance on the Select Application page.
Mark any emergency indicators that apply, then click Next.
Choose the benefit you want. The options are Cash Assistance, One Shot Deal, or Child Care without Cash Assistance (CILOCA).
Complete and submit the application.
Follow the confirmation page instructions, and upload your documents with the ACCESS HRA Mobile App.
The flyer also says that when you apply, say the application is only for emergency assistance if that's all you need.
Already getting Cash Assistance?
Don't start a new application. HRA's flyer says active Cash Assistance clients should:
Log in to ACCESS HRA and use Find My Case to link to their case.
Choose View Case.
Choose Request Special Grant on the left side.
Pick the grant they need, fill it out and submit.
Upload documents with the ACCESS HRA Mobile App.
Prefer to apply in person?
You can apply at any HRA Benefits Access Center. NYC311 notes that in-person, face-to-face interviews aren't available right now. If you go to a center for your interview, HRA will send you to a phone or a customer service counter.
Step 4: The Interview
ACCESS NYC, NYC311 and HRA all say an interview is required for a One Shot Deal. NYC311 says you must call HRA to do it.
HRA's Cash Assistance page gives the number for its on-demand interviews. After you submit your Cash Assistance application, call 929-273-1872 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to complete the interview. For general questions, HRA's InfoLine is 718-557-1399, staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. NYC311 says the automated system runs all the time and help is available in most languages.
Have these things in front of you when you call:
Your rent ledger or the arrears total.
Your landlord's name, address and phone number.
Your plan for paying future rent.
Your document list, with notes on anything you're still waiting for.
Step 5: The Decision
HRA's flyer says you'll get a letter in the mail with the decision. You can also check your case status on ACCESS HRA or call the InfoLine at 718-557-1399. If HRA needs more information, it will send you a notice. Answer it quickly.
If you're approved for rent arrears, the check goes directly to your landlord or to Housing Court, as applicable. It doesn't go to you.
Step 6: Repayment
This is the part people miss. HRA's flyer says New York State law requires most people to repay at least some of the money. People who receive SSI don't have to repay.
If HRA finds rent arrears during your application, you'll be asked to sign a State-required repayment agreement in ACCESS HRA.
Your decision notice tells you whether the grant must be repaid under State law.
HRA's Cash Assistance page adds that if your income is above a certain amount, you may have to sign an agreement to repay.
HRA's pages don't spell out the repayment schedule or monthly amount, so we don't either. Read your agreement and decision notice closely, and ask the InfoLine if anything is unclear.
Applying Again After a Past One Shot Deal
You can apply even if you've had a One Shot Deal before. But the flyer says that if you didn't repay a past grant, you may not be approved for another one. It also says that if you made payments, your chances are better. Either way, you'll need to show new reasons for falling behind.
If You're Denied
Read the decision letter closely. It should say why. Common gaps are missing documents, no clear plan for future rent, or rent HRA considers unaffordable.
Fix the problem and reapply. The flyer says you can apply more than once. A new job letter, a landlord's written confirmation or a new subsidy can change the outcome.
Call the HRA InfoLine at 718-557-1399 to ask about your case.
Facing eviction? Contact Housing Court Answers, which HRA's flyer lists, and see our Right to Counsel guide below.
At risk of entering shelter? ACCESS NYC points you to Homebase. The Department of Homeless Services says Homebase serves low-income New Yorkers at imminent risk of entering shelter. Its services include eviction prevention, emergency rental assistance and short-term financial help.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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More help in New York City
See every FSR guide for New York City in one place on our New York City Financial Help Guides hub.
Related guides
Official sources
HRA procedures change. Confirm with the HRA InfoLine at 718-557-1399.
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