New affordable housing units are often filled with eligible applicants who apply through housing lotteries. Tenants who are accepted and move into affordable housing units are able to stay as long as they remain in good standing. Monthly rents are set based on minimum and maximum income requirements that can change for each building, but tenants usually pay about 30% of their income towards the rent. Affordable housing units must remain affordable for extended periods of time, so apartments that become vacant after tenants move out are often filled through wait lists and other applications.
Although the City helps to fund affordable housing apartments, the units are rented directly from private real estate developers. NYC Connect provides a helpful listing of available affordable housing apartments and more information about the process. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) provide similar lists of available units. More information on applying for housing lotteries can be found in the link below.
Demand for affordable housing is very high so it is important to apply for all the units you may be eligible for and to pursue any other housing options available.
The links below provide a more complete description regarding eligibility, application, and placement for Housing Lotteries.
