Housing in WNY: A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Survival Guide

Intro:

Trying to find housing help in Western New York can feel like you’re starring in a game show called “Guess That Eligibility Requirement!” You’ll spin the wheel of funding sources, hope you land on “HUD” instead of “LOL,” and spend your days chasing paperwork like it's an Olympic sport.

But don’t worry—this blog is your (slightly sarcastic) map through the wild world of WNY housing programs. We’re diving into Section 8, PHAs, affordable housing, CoC-funded programs, and everything in between. Yes, even that one program your cousin's neighbor got into back in 2009 that no one can seem to find again.

🚨 Emergency Housing Through DSS: The Safety Net with a Lot of Paperwork

When all else fails (or while you're waiting on waitlists that move slower than a sloth in January), Department of Social Services (DSS) is often your first stop for emergency shelter and temporary housing assistance.

In WNY, every county has its own DSS office—like Erie County DSS, Niagara County DSS, etc.—and they're tasked with placing individuals and families experiencing homelessness into:

• Shelters

• Motel placements (a.k.a. "DSS hotel stays")

• Emergency apartments or overflow housing if available

💬 What to Expect:

• You'll need to apply in person or by calling the emergency line.

• Be prepared to verify homelessness (they will ask 1,000 questions about where you slept last night).

• They may also ask about income, assets, and whether you can stay with friends or family (spoiler: if your aunt’s couch has fleas and five people already on it, that still might not be enough).

• If you’re placed in a hotel: You must check in daily and meet with a worker regularly, or risk losing your placement.

🧾 DSS Can Also Help With:

• One-shot deals to pay back rent or security deposits

• Temporary assistance (cash benefits)

• Emergency HEAP for utility shutoffs

• Food assistance while you're getting back on your feet

🤷🏾 Why It’s Confusing:

Because the rules vary not just by county, but sometimes by worker. One may tell you to come back with a lease; another might hand you a referral to Coordinated Entry. Persistence is key.

Pro Tip: If someone says “no,” politely ask, “Can you show me that policy in writing?” The system has rules—but not everyone applies them the same way.

🏠 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs): The OG Gatekeepers

Western New York is home to a variety of Public Housing Authorities, also known as “The Keepers of the Waitlists.” If you want to access Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, this is where the magic (and the waiting) begins.

Key PHAs in the Region:

• Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA): Offers both public housing units and vouchers, when available… which is about as often as a solar eclipse.

• Belmont Housing Resources for WNY: Manages Section 8 for Erie County and offers FSS (Family Self-Sufficiency), homeownership help, and more.

• Racb or Rental Assistance Buffalo - Section 8, FSS, Homeownership

• City of Niagara Falls Housing Authority

• Town and County PHAs: Amherst, Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, Lockport—yep, they’ve all got their own voucher games going on.

📝 How to get in:

• Waitlist lotteries. Paperwork. Proof of income. Then more waiting.

• Follow their websites for open waitlists—some announce it like a Beyoncé album drop.

🧩 NYS Supportive Housing: Pick a Funder, Any Funder

Welcome to the land of acronyms: OMH, OASAS, OTDA, HHAP, ESSHI. These programs provide housing with services for people with mental health diagnoses, substance use history, and other challenges.

NYS Program Highlights:

• OMH (Office of Mental Health): Licensed and unlicensed supportive housing for people with SMI (serious mental illness). Coordinated via SPOA.

• OASAS: For folks in recovery from substance use. Similar supportive housing format.

• ESSHI (Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative): For literally every high-need population. If you breathe and need support, ESSHI probably has a target population box for you.

📬 How to get in:

• Get a referral from SPOA (Single Point of Access)—yes, it’s a real thing.

• THEN YOU MUST also go through coordinated entry

• Be patient. There are more acronyms than units, but it’s worth trying.

🧯 Continuum of Care (CoC) / NY-508: Homeless Funding Like No Other

The Buffalo/Erie/Niagara CoC (NY-508) is the local coordinator for federal homelessness funding via HUD. Think of it as the command center for programs that move people from the streets or shelter into permanent housing—with wraparound services.

Major CoC-Funded Programs:

• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): Long-term housing + services for people with disabilities or long histories of homelessness.

• Rapid Rehousing (RRH): Short-term help, rapid move-ins, and limited services—like speed dating for housing.

• Street Outreach & Emergency Shelter Support: Includes help from places like Compass House, Restoration Society, and more.

🧩 How to get in:

• Through coordinated entry (a.k.a. the “single door” to CoC housing). Start at DSS, a local shelter, or call 211 for a referral.

  
  

🏘️ Affordable Housing: Not Free, But Not Market Rate Either

Affordable housing in Buffalo often means income-restricted apartments subsidized by Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). These units are priced to be affordable for folks earning 30–60% of the area median income (AMI).

Look for:

• Belmont Housing

• People Inc.

• DePaul Properties

• Cedarland Development

• Housing Visions

🔍 How to get in:

• Search property management companies’ sites.

• Use NYHousingSearch.gov or call 211.

• Brace yourself for application fees and more paperwork than your mortgage-holding uncle.

💡 Other Housing Help in WNY (That People Forget About):

• HEAP: Utility assistance for heating (through DSS)

• ERAP (when funded): Emergency Rental Assistance (cross fingers for renewals)

• Homeownership & FSS Programs: Like from Belmont or your local PHA

• Tenant Legal Help: From groups like Neighborhood Legal Services

🌐 HAWNY & Coordinated Entry: Your CoC Command Center

The Homeless Alliance of Western New York (HAWNY) is the backbone agency for our local Continuum of Care (NY-508), coordinating homelessness funding, performance tracking, and the Coordinated Entry System—the process that helps match people experiencing homelessness with the most appropriate housing resources across Erie, Niagara, and surrounding counties. Think of HAWNY as the air traffic control for local housing programs: they don’t house people directly, but they make sure everyone lands safely.

On hawny.org, you’ll find:

• Housing program directories

• Guides on how Coordinated Entry works

• Point-in-Time Count reports

• Dashboards and local data tools

• Grant and funding information for providers

• Plus toolkits for landlords, program managers, and policy nerds alike.

If you’re working in housing in WNY and don’t have HAWNY bookmarked—you’re doing it wrong.

🧠 Final Thoughts: It’s Not You, It’s the System

The housing landscape in WNY is confusing and has waitlists longer than the Cheesecake Factory on a Saturday night.

But the good news? Help exists—and once you know the right doors to knock on, it gets easier.

🎓 Want to Train Your Team on Housing Navigation?

I offer:

• 👩🏽‍🏫 In-person and virtual staff trainings

• 🧾 Custom policies and procedures

• 🛠️ Tools to simplify intake and eligibility

• 🔍 Program audits and compliance support

Set up a consult with me to make your organization housing-fluent and audit-proof.

📩 Click here to schedule a consult (or just email me, I’m friendly!)