Appendix A: Glossary 

Accessible Apartments: Accessible apartments are specially equipped for people with impaired mobility. The applicant or family member must permanently use a wheelchair, walker, crutch, cane, or other adaptive device or must otherwise need the special features provided to qualify for an accessible apartment. NYCHA also works with tenants on accommodations for other needs. 

ACE: Active Corps of Executives 

ACOP: Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy 

ACS: Administration for Children’s Services 

Actual and Imminent Threat: An actual and imminent threat, as defined in federal regulations, is a physical danger that is real, would occur within an immediate time frame, and could result in death or serious bodily harm. Factors to consider in determining whether an individual would pose an actual and imminent threat include:  

• The duration of the risk.  
• The nature and severity of the potential harm.  
• The likelihood that the potential harm will occur.  

• The length of time before the potential harm would occur. 

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act 

Affidavit of Income: HUD requires the re-examination of every public housing resident’s income and household composition at least once every 12 months. NYCHA fulfills this requirement by conducting an Annual Recertification based on information provided by the resident in the Affidavit of Income (AOI). After reviewing and verifying the information submitted by the resident, NYCHA determines the resident's rent. 

Affiliated Individual: An affiliated individual is a spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child of the person, or an individual to whom that person stands in place of a parent or guardian. 

Agent Orange Settlement Funds: Payments to Vietnam era veterans exposed to Agent Orange. 

Alimony: An allowance made to one spouse by the other for support pending or after legal separation or divorce 

Alternative Non-Public Housing Rent: The alternative rent is the greater of the applicable Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each unit size established by HUD, or the amount of monthly subsidy provided for the unit (i.e., the amount of funding NYCHA receives from HUD per public housing unit each year}. 

ANCSA: Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act 

Annual Adjusted Income: The anticipated yearly gross income from all sources received by all household members (even if they are temporarily absent), minus any applicable deductions. Annual adjusted income is used to determine rent and initial eligibility, as well as eligibility for continued occupancy. 

Annual Gross Income: The anticipated yearly gross income from all sources received by all household members (even if they are temporarily absent), as described in 24 CFR § 5.609(a).  

Annual Recertification: HUD requires the re-examination of every public housing resident’s income and household composition at least once every 12 months. NYCHA fulfills this requirement by conducting an Annual Recertification, which is then used to determine resident rent. 

Annuity: Retirement benefits received by the resident on a regularly scheduled basis.  

AOI: see Affidavit of Income  

AOSF: see Agent Orange Settlement Funds 

Area Median Income: HUD establishes an Area Median Income level and a set of resulting income limits for each geographical area of the U.S. Housing agencies use the income limits to determine the eligibility of applicants to receive housing assistance. 

ARRA: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 

Assets: Real property, savings, bonds, stocks, and other forms of capital investments. They do not include personal property, such as furniture and automobiles. 

ATAD: Applications and Tenancy Administration Department (NYCHA) 

Authorized Household Members: Household members in addition to the head of household and co-head of household authorized by NYCHA to live in the apartment on a permanent basis. This excludes persons living in the household with temporary permission. 

CARES: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 

Certified Applicant: Applicants who NYCHA determines are eligible for housing (i.e., approved application and passed eligibility interview) and are on a certified waiting list. 

Certified Transferees: Existing residents who have been approved for transfer and are on a certified waiting list.  

Certified Waiting List: List of certified residents and transferees who are waiting for a public housing apartment. NYCHA has multiple certified waiting lists, including ones for General Population, Elderly, Accessible, and Borough/Development. 

CFR: Code of Federal Regulations 

Child: A member of the family other than the head of household, co-head or spouse who is under 18 years of age.  

Child Support: Payment for the support of a child or children in the household made by an adult who is not a household member.  

Chronic Rent Delinquency: Failure or refusal to pay rent within the month due, at least three times during any 12-month period. 

Citizens: A person born in one of the fifty states of the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, St, Croix, St. Johns, or St. Thomas; or who became a naturalized citizen; or foreign-born children, under eighteen years of age, residing in the U.S. with their birth or adopted parents, at least one of whom is a U.S. citizen by birth or naturalization. 

Co-Head: An individual in the household who is equally responsible for the lease with the Head of Household. A co-head never qualifies as a dependent and must sign lease as co-head of household.  

Co-Lessee: Also known as co-head of household. An individual in the household who is equally responsible for the lease with the Head of Household. A co-head never qualifies as a dependent and must sign lease as co-head of household.  

Community Service: The performance of work or duties that are a public benefit and that serve to improve the quality of life, enhance resident self-sufficiency, or increase resident self-responsibility in the community. Community Service is not employment and may not include political activities. Community service is a requirement for public housing residents unless they qualify for an exemption. 

Consolidated Development: Several developments managed under a single management office.  

CRD: Chronic Rent Delinquency 

CSR: Community Service Requirements 

Day Laborer: An individual hired and paid one day at a time without an agreement that the individual will be hired or work again in the future. 

Dependent: A member of the family (except foster children and foster adults) other than the head or spouse, who is under 18 years of age, or is a person with a disability, or is a full-time student. 

Development: A building or group of buildings managed under a single management office. 

Disabled Family: A family whose head, co-head, spouse, or sole member, is a person with disabilities; or two or more persons with disabilities living together; or one or more persons with disabilities living with one or more live-in aides. 

DOHMH: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 

Doubled-Up: Residing with friends or family members.  

DVS: Data Verification System (NYCHA) 

Earned Income Disallowance: Household does not receive a rent increase after experiencing one of three qualifying events: (i) earning income from employment after unemployment; (ii) earning income from employment during participation in an economic self-sufficiency or job training program; or (iii) earning income from employment after receiving welfare. 

Economic Self-Sufficiency Program: Any program that is designed to encourage, assist, train, or facilitate the economic independence of its participants and their families. An Economic Self-Sufficiency program can also provide work for its participants. 

EID: see Earned Income Disallowance 

EIV: Enterprise Income Verification system 

Elderly Family: A family whose head, co-head, spouse, or sole member is at least 62 years of age. It may include two or more persons, each of whom is at least 62, living together; or one or more persons who are at least 62 living with one or more live-in aides. 

Emergency Transfer: A resident moves to a different development, based on a family member qualifying as a VAWA victim (victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking), Intimidated Victim, Intimidated Witness, Child Sexual Victim, or Victim of a Traumatic Incident. 

Extremely Underoccupied: An apartment having two or more extra rooms above the room size specified for standard occupancy. 

Fair Market Rents: Set by HUD each year to be used to determine standard payment amounts for government housing assistance programs.  

Family: Includes, but is not limited to, the following, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation gender identity, or marital status: 

1. A single person, who may be an elderly person, displaced person, disabled person, near-elderly person, or any other single person; or an otherwise eligible youth who has attained at least 18 years of age and not more than 24 years of age and who has left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(5)(H)), and is homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older; or 

1. A group of persons residing together, and such group includes, but is not limited to: 

(i) A family with or without children (a child who is temporarily away from the home because of placement in foster care is considered a member of the family); 

(ii) An elderly family; 

(iii) A near-elderly family; 

(iv) A disabled family; 

(v) A displaced family; and 

(vi) The remaining member of a resident family. 

FDNY: Fire Department of the City of New York 

FHEO: Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity 

FLD: Field Liaison Division (NYCHA) 

FMR: see Fair Market Rents  

Foster Adult: A member of the household who is 18 years of age or older and meets the definition of a foster adult under State law. In general, a foster adult is a person who is 18 years of age or older, is unable to live independently due to a debilitating physical or mental condition and is placed with the family by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction.  

Foster Adults, Payments for Care of: Payments made to the resident or household members who care for foster adults who have disabilities and are unable to live alone.  

Foster Child: A member of the household who meets the definition of a foster child under State law. In general, a foster child is placed with the family by an authorized placement agency (e.g., public child welfare agency) or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction.  

Full-time Student: A member of the household, other than the head, spouse or co-head, or foster child or adult, 18 years of age or older on the effective date of a certification, who carries a subject load considered full-time for students under the standards and practices of the educational institution attended. 

Gift Income: Monetary support a household member receives regularly from an outside source, either from individuals or organizations. Contributions are not necessarily monetary amounts given directly to the household; they may also include regular payments of a bill or expense. See also Regular Contributions and/or Informal Support. 

Grievance Hearing: An administrative hearing accorded to a resident regarding any dispute(s) he/she may have with respect to NYCHA action or failure to act in accordance with resident’s lease or NYCHA regulations which adversely affect the resident’s rights, duties, welfare, or status, or an administrative hearing involving an individual who claims remaining family member (RFM) status and wants to succeed to a lease.  

Head of Household: Adult member of the household, designated by the family or by NYCHA policy as the head of household, who is responsible for rent payment and signs the lease. 

Health and Medical Care Expenses: Any costs incurred in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or payments for treatments affecting any structure or function of the body. Health and medical care expenses include medial insurance premiums and long-term care premiums that are paid or anticipated during the period for which annual income is computed.  

HEAP: Home Energy Assistance Program 

HHS: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Holocaust Reparations: Payments made by a foreign government pursuant to claims filed under the laws of that country's government by persons who were persecuted during the Nazi era.  

Homeless: Families or individuals a) residing in homeless hotels, shelters or place not meant for human habitation; b) residing in places not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation, e.g., parks, bus depots, or automobiles; c) exiting health care facilities (e.g., nursing homes, adult homes, mental health facilities) and cannot return to prior housing; or d) residing in transitional or supportive housing. 

HOTMA: Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 

Household: Those listed in household composition, lease addenda, and rent notices.  

HRA: New York City Human Resources Administration 

HUD: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

Income Limits: HUD establishes an Area Median Income level and a set of resulting income limits for each geographical area of the U.S. NYCHA uses the income limits to determine the eligibility of applicants to receive housing assistance. For admission to public housing, family income must not exceed 80% of area median income as established by federal regulations. For current public housing income limits refer to https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html.  

Income Tier: The income level of each applicant which, to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations, NYCHA uses to advance its goal of income mixing and of avoiding concentrations of extremely low-income families in NYCHA developments. 

Independent Contractor: An individual who qualifies as an independent contractor instead of an employee in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code federal income tax requirements and whose earnings are consequently subject to the Self-Employment Tax. In general, an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done or how it will be done.  

Informal Support: Monetary support a household member receives regularly from an outside source, either from individuals or organizations. Contributions are not necessarily monetary amounts given directly to the household, but also include regular payments of a bill or expense. See also Regular Contributions and/or Gift Income. 

INS: U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service 

Inter-Project Transfer: When a resident moves to an apartment in a development other than the development of current residence. 

Intimidated Witness: A family member cooperating in a criminal investigation or prosecution, where a member of the household has been threatened by a defendant in that investigation or prosecution or by a person associated with a defendant. 

Intra-Project Transfer: When a resident moves to an apartment within the development of current residence. 

IRS: U.S. Internal Revenue Service 

JTPA: Job Training Partnership Act 

Kin-GAP: Kinship Guardian Assistance Payments 

LEP: Limited English Proficiency 

Lessee: Persons who have signed a lease with NYCHA. Also known as head of household and co-head of household. 

Live-in Aide: A person who lives with an elderly person or person with disabilities and who: a) is determined by NYCHA to be essential to the care and well-being of the person(s); b) is not obligated to support the person(s); and c) would not be living in the apartment except to provide necessary supportive services. 

Live-in Guardian: A person who is willing to move into a NYCHA apartment and provide care for a ward. This caregiver must also be a legal guardian of the ward. 

Longshoremen’s Earnings: Longshoremen who qualify receive pay for any day of work they are clocked in for, regardless of whether there is work for them. If work is available, the worker is paid for the work performed, which may include overtime.  

Lottery Winnings: Amounts that include lottery or sweepstakes winnings paid in installments.  

Low-income Public Housing Program: Program created by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 and monitored and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). NYCHA administers the program in New York City. 

LSU: Language Services Unit (NYCHA) 

Medicare: A federal health insurance program available for OASI, SSD, OASDI recipients who are 65 years of age or are disabled, regardless of age, provided they have been entitled to the benefits for two or more consecutive years. Medicare premiums are included in gross income calculations, but not if the recipient also receives SSI. 

MICSA: Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 

Minimum Rent: The lowest monthly rent NYCHA charges a resident. For public housing developments, the minimum rent is $0. 

Minor: A member of the family, other than the head of family or spouse, who is under 18 years of age. 

Mixed Family: Families that include household members with and without eligible immigration status. A family is eligible for assistance as long as at least one member is a U.S. citizen or has eligible immigration status. 

Near-elderly Family: A family whose head, co-head, spouse, or sole member is at least 50 years of age but below the age of 62; or two or more persons, each of whom are between the ages of 50 and 62, living together; or one or more persons who are between the ages of 50 and 62 living with one or more live-in aides.  

Net Family Assets: Net family assets represent the cash value of all assets owned by the family, after deducting reasonable costs that would be incurred in disposing of real property, savings, stocks, bonds, and other forms of capital. 

Non-Citizens with Eligible Immigration Status: A non-citizen with eligible immigration status qualifies for housing assistance if the individual’s status is one of the six immigrant categories specified by HUD:  

1. a) Immigrant status under 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA);
2. b) Permanent Residence under 249 of the INA;
3. c) Refugee, Asylum, or Conditional Entry status under 207, 208, or 203 of the INA; 
4. d) Parole status under 212(d)(5) of the INA; 
5. e) Threat to Life or Freedom under 243(h) of the INA; or 
6. f) Amnesty under USA of the INA.

Non-Public Housing Over-Income Family: A family whose income exceeds the statutory over-income limit for 24 consecutive months, has signed the non-public housing over income lease, and is paying the alternative non-public-housing rent.  

NPHOI: Non-Public-Housing Over-Income 

NYCHA: New York City Housing Authority 

1. NYPD: New York City Police Department 

OASDI: see Old Age Survivor's Disability Insurance 

OASI: see Old Age Survivor's Insurance  

ODEI: Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (NYCHA) 

Old Age Survivor's Disability Insurance: A monthly benefit received from the federal government if a resident or authorized household member is not eligible for regular Social Security benefits but must stop working because of a disability. Minor children may be entitled to a small portion of their parent's benefits. 

Old Age Survivor's Insurance: The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a monthly benefit that retired employees receive based on their employment history. The benefits are payable to the insured employee, as well as to other household members (i.e. spouse, dependent, surviving children, or dependent parents). Lump sum deferred periodic payments are not included as income.  

OPA: New York City Office of Payroll Administration  

Overcrowded: More people living in an apartment than NYCHA’s occupancy standards specify (refer to Chapter 5(c), Occupancy Standards). 

Over-income Family: A family whose income exceeds the statutory over-income limit. 

Over-income Limit: The over-income limit is determined by multiplying the applicable income limit for a very low-income family, as defined in 24 CFR § 5.603(b), by a factor of 2.4. 

PASS: Plan for Achieving Self-Support 

Pension: Retirement benefits received by the resident on a regularly scheduled basis. Military pensions are included in this category. 

Periodic Benefit: Benefits received by the resident on a regularly scheduled basis.  

Permanent Transfer: A resident relinquishes tenancy in his/her current (original) apartment and begins a new tenancy in a new apartment. Property management staff processes a permanent transfer with the applicable TSAP transfer priority code. Note that permanent transfers begin with the resident completing the appropriate NYCHA transfer request form. 

Person with Disabilities: A person who, as per Title 8, Chapter 1 of the NYC Administrative Code (NYC Human Rights Law), has any physical, medical, mental, or psychological impairment, or a history or record of such impairment. Physical, medical, mental, or psychological impairment means an impairment of any system of the body, including, but not limited to: the neurological system; the musculoskeletal system; the special sense organs and respiratory organs, including, but not limited to, speech organs; the cardiovascular system; the reproductive system; the digestive and genitourinary systems; the hemic and lymphatic systems; the immunological systems; the skin; and the endocrine system; or a mental or psychological impairment. 

PH: see Low-income Public Housing Program 

PHA: Public Housing Agency means any State, county, municipality, or other governmental entity or public body, or agency or instrumentality of these entities, that is authorized to engage or assist in the development or operation of low-income housing under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. 

PHRAC: Public Housing Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator 

PIH: HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing 

Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS), Payments for: Payments made to persons pursuing a PASS which has been approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  

Preference: An applicant’s or transferee’s place on the certified waiting list is determined in part by NYCHA-defined preferences. An applicant’s or transferee’s individual attributes determine whether they are eligible for these preferences. The preferences can help an applicant or transferee advance on the waiting list over other applicants or transferees that do not qualify for the preferences. NYCHA has two preferences: 

• Single member households (i.e., one-person households): An elderly person or person with disabilities will be selected for eligibility interviews over other single member households who are not elderly or disabled, except emergency applicants, who will be taken in order of priority regardless of age or disability; and 

• New York City residents: Applicants who live, work, or will work within the five boroughs of New York City will be selected for eligibility interviews before applicants who do not live, work, or will work in New York City.  

Premises: The building or complex in which the apartment is located, including common areas and grounds.  

Priority: An applicant’s or transferee’s place on the certified waiting list is determined in part by NYCHA-defined preferences and priorities. An applicant’s or transferee’s individual attributes determine whether they are eligible for these preferences and priorities. The preferences and priorities can help an applicant or transferee advance on the waiting list over other applicants or transferees that do not qualify for the preferences and priorities. Within the New York City resident preference, NYCHA has adopted a Working Family Priority and a Need Based Priority, which it uses to rank each applicant or transferee based upon information in the application. If an applicant or transferee qualifies for both types of priority, NYCHA assigns both priorities to the application, and whichever causes the applicant or transferee to be selected for an eligibility interview is the applicant’s final priority. 

Prohibited Tobacco Product: Any item that involves the ignition and burning of tobacco leaves, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and water pipes (hookahs). 

Registered Domestic Partner: A legal relationship permitted under the laws of the State and City of New York. 

Regular Contributions: Monetary support a household member receives regularly from an outside source, either from individuals or organizations. Contributions are not necessarily monetary amounts given directly to the household, but also include regular payments of a bill or expense. See also Gift Income and/or Informal Support. 

Remaining Family Member: Persons who were members of an original resident family or who became permanent members of the resident family subsequent to move-in with the written approval of NYCHA, and who thereafter remain in continuous occupancy up to and including the time the resident of record moves or dies. These residents may be offered a lease if they are otherwise eligible for public housing. Refer to Chapter 6(k), Remaining Family Member, for more information.  

RFM: see Remaining Family Member 

SAVE: Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system 

SCORE: Service Corps of Retired Executives 

Seasonal Worker: An individual who is hired into a short-term position and the employment begins about the same time each year (such as summer or winter). Typically, the individual is hired to address seasonal demands that arise for the particular employer or industry. 

Service Animal: An animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the animal must be directly related to the person's disability. An example of a service animal is a guide dog for a blind or visually impaired individual. 

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 

SPD: Services for People with Disabilities (NYCHA) 

Sporadic Income: Income that is neither reliable nor periodic. 

SS: Social Security 

SSA: Social Security Administration 

SSD: Social Security Disability. See Old Age Survivor's Insurance. 

SSI: See Supplemental Security Income 

SSN: Social Security Number 

Standard Occupancy: The number of persons approved by NYCHA to reside in an apartment on permanent basis. NYCHA uses this standard when assigning apartments, determining whether to approve permanent family additions and deciding whether right sizing transfers are permitted or required. 

State Homecare Payments: Payments made to offset the cost of equipment and services needed to keep a developmentally disabled person at home.  

Student Aide/Assistance: All payments received from scholarships, educational entitlement, grants, work study programs, and/or financial aid packages, even if earmarked for general living expenses. 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Stamps: The value of the allotment provided to an eligible household for coupons under the Food Stamp Act of 1977. 

Supplemental Security Income: A monthly benefit from SSA to people with low incomes and limited assets who are 65 years of age or older, or blind, or disabled. 

Title II Employment, Subtitle A, of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Payments for: Service community employment programs for unemployed people with disabilities. 

Title IV Scholarships: Scholarships funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that are used to cover the cost of attendance at an educational institution.  

Title V Employment, funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965, Payments for: Service community employment programs for unemployed persons who are 55 years of age or older. 

Tobacco and Marijuana-Restricted Area: Any public housing apartment and building interior area, including lobbies, hallways, elevators, stairwells, porches, balconies, fire escapes, laundry rooms, management offices, basements, Resident Association spaces, Resident Watch spaces, community facilities (including community centers, senior centers, and sponsored community centers) and day care centers, and outdoor areas within 25 feet of public housing buildings, or to NYCHA’s property boundary where that boundary is less than 25 feet from a NYCHA building (for example, where a NYCHA building entrance is right off or close to a public sidewalk). 

TSAP: Tenant Selection and Assignment Plan 

TTY: Teletypewriter 

Unauthorized Occupant: A person who resides in an apartment without NYCHA’s authorization or permission.  

UIB: State Unemployment Insurance Benefits 

UIV: Upfront Income Verification 

Underoccupied: An apartment having one extra room above the room size specified for standard occupancy. 

USC: United States Code 

USCIS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services 

VA: Department of Veteran's Affairs 

VAWA: Violence Against Women Act 

VAWA Incidents: Domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. 

Veterans’ Disability Benefits: The federal government pays disability benefits to disabled individuals who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. The widow(er) of a veteran entitled to a pension may also receive benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

Veterans' Educational Benefits: Payments by the federal government to veterans for tuition, fees, books, equipment, materials, supplies, transportation, and/or miscellaneous personal expenses.  

Victims of Domestic Violence: Victims of felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a family member, current or former spouse, intimate partner, person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under New York’s domestic or family violence laws, or any other person who committed felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under New York’s domestic or family violence laws. 

WMS: Welfare Management System  

---