• Agency: NYC Department of Homeless Services (NYC DHS)
• Status: Unavailable

Also known as Work Advantage, Advantage was a rental subsidy provided to households that lived in the homeless shelter system for at least 60 days. In order to qualify, at least one adult per family was required to be employed for 20 hours a week or more earning at minimum wage or above, in addition to engaging in approved activities for a total of 35 hours a week. Total household income could not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Approved activities included: job search, a paid job, work-study, internships, or school. Any other adults in the household were also required to participate in at least 20 hours of approved activities. After qualifying, households became eligible for up to two years of rent support. The amount of rental assistance given to a particular household depended on its income and household size. Households contributed 30 percent of their gross monthly income toward rent the first year and 40 percent the second year, and DHS contributed the balance of the rent to the landlord. The program was suspended in April 2011. Since the Advantage program was ended, the City of New York has established the Living in Communities (LINC) Rental Program, as well as the Family Eviction Prevention Rent Supplement program, which along with several other homelessness prevention programs were consolidated under the de Blasio administration into the City Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Rent Supplement (CityFHEPS).