NYC Housing Connect

Housing | NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD); NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC)

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NYC Housing Connect helps you find affordable apartments and homes to rent or buy across all five boroughs.

Heads Up

What makes housing affordableAffordable housing costs about one-third or less of your household income. Types of affordable housing
  • Rental units with rent regulations to prevent large increases over time
  • For-sale homes (condos, co-ops, 1-4 family homes) with restricted pricesHow to find affordable housing
  • Use NYC Housing Connect (https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/search-lotteries) to browse open lotteries
  • Or, check out Housing Development Corporation (HDC) re-rentals (https://www.nychdc.com/find-re-rentals) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) re-rentals (https://www.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/find-affordable-housing-re-rentals.page) to apply directly to first-come, first-serve apartments without a Housing Connect lottery application
  • Meet the income and household size requirements for each lottery or unit

    • Eligibility

    Each lottery has different income requirements based on your household size. Check the requirements on NYC Housing Connect (https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/search-lotteries) before you apply. Ready to Rent (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/ready-to-rent.page) offers free one-on-one financial counseling and help with applications.Some lotteries give priority to NYC residents who have a disability, are seniors, or live in the same neighborhood.

    Required Documents

    If your lottery application gets selected, you may need to provide:

  • Proof of income (paystubs, W-2 forms, benefits statements)
  • Asset information (bank or investment statements)
  • Rent payment history or credit check
  • IDs and birth certificates for household membersSee the (https://a806-housingconnect.nyc.gov/nyclottery/instructionPDFs/After_You_Apply_en.pdf) full document list on NYC Housing Connect.

    How to Apply

  • Create and complete your profile on NYC Housing Connect
  • Search open lotteries and find units you qualify for
  • Apply for lotteries before the deadline or directly to a re-rentalWhat happens next?It can take several months to hear back about your application. Keep your profile updated with any changes to your income or household while you wait. Sign up for email updates when new lotteries open.

    Online

  • Create and complete your profile on NYC Housing Connect
  • Search open lotteries and find units you qualify for
  • Apply for lotteries before the deadline or directly to a re-rentalWhat happens next?It can take several months to hear back. Keep your profile updated with any changes to your income or household while you wait. Sign up for email updates when new lotteries open.

    Visit NYC Housing Connect

    By Mail

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    Get Help

  • Get application assistance (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/housing-ambassadors.page) from an organization through Housing Ambassadors.
  • Get financial counseling and application assistance (https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/ready-to-rent.page) through Ready to Rent.
  • Get answers from the (https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/about-us) Housing Connect FAQ page (mailto:[email protected])
  • Email NYC Housing Connect: [email protected]
  • Call 212-863-7990. Calls may not be answered in real time, but you can leave a voicemail.

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