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NYC Housing Lottery
Browse affordable housing lotteries across New York City. Filter by borough, income level, and apartment size. Data sourced directly from HPD Housing Connect.
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How the NYC Housing Lottery Works
What is it?
The NYC housing lottery is a system run by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) through NYC Housing Connect. Developers who receive city subsidies must set aside affordable units and fill them through a public lottery. Anyone can apply — over 700,000 New Yorkers are registered.
Who qualifies?
Eligibility is based on household size and income, measured as a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI). Categories range from Extremely Low Income (0–30% AMI) to Middle Income (121–165% AMI). Each lottery specifies which income bands have available units.
How to apply
Applications are free and submitted through Housing Connect. Each lottery has a deadline — typically 60 days from the start date. Winners are selected randomly, with preferences given to community board residents, municipal employees, NYCHA residents, and people with disabilities.
Preference categories
Most lotteries reserve a percentage of units for applicants with certain preferences:
- Community Board (50%) — residents of the community district where the building is located
- NYCHA (25%) — current NYCHA public housing residents
- Municipal Employees (5%) — NYC government workers
- Mobility Disabilities (5%) — applicants requiring accessible units
- Vision/Hearing (2%) — applicants with vision or hearing disabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NYC housing lottery really free?
Yes. There is no fee to apply through Housing Connect. If anyone charges you to apply for a housing lottery, it's a scam.
What are my odds of winning?
It varies by lottery. Popular lotteries can receive 50,000–100,000+ applications for a few dozen units. Applying to multiple lotteries and having community board preference significantly improves your chances.
Can I apply to more than one lottery?
Yes, you can apply to as many lotteries as you're eligible for. Each lottery is independent.
What does 'Tenant Selection' status mean?
It means the lottery has closed, winners have been drawn, and HPD is in the process of verifying eligibility and placing tenants. Some units may still become available if selected applicants don't qualify.
What's the difference between rental and owner lotteries?
Rental lotteries are for affordable apartments you rent. Owner lotteries are for affordable condos or co-ops you purchase. Owner units typically have income requirements and resale restrictions.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from official HPD datasets published on NYC Open Data, updated regularly. We display the same information available through Housing Connect in a more browsable format.
Found a lottery you like?
Check the building's health score before you apply — violations, complaints, and compliance data.