421 Montgomery Street, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202. That is the address for the Onondaga County Department of Social Services — Economic Security division. It is where a tenant facing eviction walks in and applies for rental arrears assistance. It is where the Rental Supplement Program is administered. It is the front door for most county-level rental assistance in Syracuse.
Phone: (315) 435-2700. Select prompt 1, then prompt 3, and ask for the Supervisor of the Day.
Rental Supplement Program
The DSS Rental Supplement Program provides monthly rental supplements to households earning up to 50 percent of Area Median Income. For a single person in the Syracuse metro, that ceiling is $36,250 per year. For a family of four, $51,750. Initial priority goes to households at or below 30 percent of AMI.
There is no fixed end date. Eligibility depends on continued income qualification. Onondaga County anticipates serving approximately 100 households through the program.
The state directive (25-LCM-04) specifies that a minimum of 85 percent of funds go toward rental supplements, with limited use for rental arrears and security deposits. District allocations are based on each county’s share of Public Assistance households.
RSP does not require the applicant to be homeless. This distinguishes it from most other programs on this list. However, there is currently a waitlist.
Application is through Onondaga County DSS. Contact: (315) 435-2700.
PASS — Public Assistance Shelter Supplement
PASS is a shelter allowance supplement that covers rent for families receiving Temporary Assistance — commonly known as welfare or Public Assistance. There is no fixed end date. Eligibility depends on continued TA eligibility.
The base shelter allowances under Temporary Assistance in Onondaga County, set by state regulation 18 NYCRR 352.3, are strikingly low relative to actual rents:
For households with children — the monthly maximums by household size: 1 person: $210. 2 people: $235. 3 people: $303. 4 people: $341. 5 people: $379. 6 people: $397. 7 people: $413. 8 or more: $413.
For households without children: 1 person: $203. 2 people: $235. 3 people: $270. 4 people: $294. 5 people: $319. 6 people: $329. 7 people: $343. 8 or more: $375.
A family of three on Temporary Assistance receives a maximum shelter allowance of $303 per month. The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Syracuse is $1,321. PASS supplements that gap — though it does not always close it entirely.
The majority of families on Temporary Assistance who are connected through the CHANCE program will have one of the rental assistance programs listed elsewhere in this series. Which specific program depends on the family’s case.
Application is through Onondaga County DSS Temporary Assistance intake: (315) 435-2825.
Rental Arrears Assistance
A tenant who falls behind on rent can go to DSS at 421 Montgomery Street, 2nd floor, and apply for rental arrears assistance to help prevent eviction. Eligibility depends on income — the applicant must “financially qualify,” though specific thresholds are not published online.
DSS can cover back rent payments, security deposits, first month’s rent for a new apartment, moving allowance (van rental), and emergency storage for personal belongings for up to 30 days.
SAEF — Shelter Arrears Eviction Forestallment
A newer state pilot program also administered through Onondaga County DSS. New York State allocated $10 million in the 2024-2025 budget for SAEF statewide. Onondaga County received approximately $600,000.
SAEF covers up to six months of rent for eligible households. The income limit: at or below double the federal poverty limit — $30,120 for a single person, $62,400 for a family of four. The head of household must be at least a permanent U.S. resident or Green Card holder. The landlord must agree to accept the SAEF aid.
Early results as of early 2025: approximately $37,000 disbursed to 16 households, averaging about $2,300 per household. 14 of those were families. The program fills a gap for tenants who are ineligible for other programs like Emergency Assistance for Families, which is limited to once every five years.
Other Local Resources
Catholic Charities of Onondaga County at 262 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse — (315) 378-4054 extension 23 — may provide first month’s rent, last month’s rent, or security deposit assistance. Walk-ins welcome.
Salvation Army at (315) 479-3626 may provide first month’s rent or security deposit.
211 CNY — dial 2-1-1 — is the general referral line for all social services in Central New York.
Emergency Assistance for Adults is also available at 421 Montgomery, 2nd floor, for SSI recipients facing emergencies including housing crises. Must be 18 or older, currently receiving SSI, and facing an emergency beyond personal control.
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