How does NYC Housing Connect work?

What makes housing affordable Affordable 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 prices How to find affordable housing Use NYC Housing Connect to browse open lotteries Or, check out Housing Development Corporation (HDC) re-rentals and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) re-rentals 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

What do I need in order to apply to NYC Housing Connect?

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 members See the full document list on NYC Housing Connect.

How do I Apply to NYC Housing Connect?

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-rental What 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.

NYC Housing Connect – ACCESS NYC

How it Works

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

What makes housing affordable

Affordable 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 prices

How to find affordable housing

Use NYC Housing Connect to browse open lotteries
Or, check out Housing Development Corporation (HDC) re-rentals and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) re-rentals 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

Determine your eligibility

Each lottery has different income requirements based on your household size. Check the requirements on NYC Housing Connect before you apply.

Ready to Rent 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.

Immigration status requirements

You can apply to Housing Connect lotteries and re-rentals regardless of your citizenship or immigration status.

What you need to include

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 members

See the 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-rental

What 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