How does the NYC apartment lottery work?

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Accepted Answer

The NYC affordable housing lottery is a program through which New York City makes below-market-rate apartments available to qualifying residents by random selection.

How the lottery works:

The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC) run the lottery through the NYC Housing Connect portal (housingconnect.nyc.gov)
New and renovated affordable housing developments set aside a percentage of units for lottery applicants
Eligible applicants are selected randomly from all qualifying entries — not on a first-come, first-served basis
Income limits apply — each lottery specifies the eligible income range based on Area Median Income (AMI) percentages

Who can apply:

Any adult who meets the income requirements for the specific development
Applicants must meet household size requirements for the unit size
Certain lotteries give preference to current residents of the community board district, municipal employees or people with disabilities

Key facts about the NYC housing lottery in 2026:

Applying is free — anyone charging a fee to submit a lottery application on your behalf is running a scam
You can apply to multiple lotteries simultaneously
Being selected does not guarantee an apartment — selected applicants still go through income verification and standard application screening
Average odds vary significantly by development; popular Manhattan lotteries can receive tens of thousands of applications for a handful of units

Tips for lottery applicants:

Create a profile on housingconnect.nyc.gov and keep your income documentation updated
Apply to every lottery you qualify for — the more you apply, the better your statistical chances
Never pay anyone to apply on your behalf