NYC HOUSING LOTTERY

A Resource Page

MYTHS VS FACTS

MYTH #1: I make too much money (or not enough) to win the Housing Lottery

FACT: It's possible, but there are Lotteries available for a whole range of incomes, where you might make $24,000/yr or $124,000/yr. It's how much you pay in rent that changes.

MYTH #2: I'm Self Employed, so I wouldn't qualify.

FACT: What matters is that you have a somewhat stable source of income (i.e. you've had the same freelance line of work for the past 2 years), and somewhat predictable income (i.e. you can show averages from the past two years and what you anticipate making this year).

Read more Myths & Facts here and here

MYTH #3: You're competing with thousands of people for the same apartment, so your chances are slim.

FACT: Ultimately it is a lottery, so there's no guarantees. But there are also apartments available right now with relatively few applicants (perhaps less than 50) - which greatly increases your chances. You just have to know how to find them.

And Housing Connect is not the only place to look....

yellow car running on the street between the building during daytime
yellow car running on the street between the building during daytime
brown and black building
brown and black building

"NY offers programs that give developers tax breaks and lower-cost loans if they set aside a certain number of units for affordable housing in new buildings or newly renovated properties.

Apartments in these buildings are typically rent-stabilized, and people earning a wide range of incomes can apply to win affordable apartments through the NYC housing lottery...where a computer randomly assigns numbers to each application. The lower the number, the more likely the applicant will be contacted to potentially win an apartment..."

Continue reading here

So what is Affordable Housing?

Other articles/general info:

NYC Rent Guidelines Board: Affordable Housing FAQ

high rise buildings during daytime
high rise buildings during daytime

Once the application period is closed, a computer randomizes the applications and assigns each application a Log #.

THE GENERAL PROCESS

Every building has it's own application, with it's own selection criteria.
Housing Connect simplifies this, but there are other ways you can apply.

They then proceed to go through the Log #s one by one, to begin filling the available units.

When they reach your Log #, you must then submit documentation to verify what you stated on your application (i.e. Income, household size), which may include: tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, utility bills, leases, etc. etc. etc.

Once everything has been verified and you've been approved, the apartment is yours. And even if your income changes the following year, you still get to keep your apartment.

yellow sedan on road near buildings with people walks
yellow sedan on road near buildings with people walks

2022

Current Area Median Income Qualification Chart

Each individual apartment building sets it's own Income limits (minimum and maximum) for it's available apartments - based on the current AMI.

For example, if you're a single occupant applying for an apartment which has been designated at 40% of the AMI, you'd have to make less than $37, 360 to qualify for that apartment.

Or a single occupants applying for an apartment designated at 120% of the AMI, you'd have to make less than $112,080.
Etc. etc.

The current AMI levels can be viewed here.

Where to find apartments

MHANY MANAGEMENT

DEVELOPERS

PROPERTY MANAGERS

Places to start:

ORGANIZATIONS

Housing Ambassadors:

NYC/HPD - Ambassador Resource Page

(Free assistance for navigating Affordable Housing)

Oftentimes Property Management companies can be reached out to directly for an application, to inquire about available apartments, and/or to get on their waitlist.

There are also companies and organizations that can be reached out to directly.

As with Property Managers, the same goes for Developers

Main Hub for the NYC Housing Lottery, but not the only way to find Lotteries