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).
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....
"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
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.
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