What to expect when applying for affordable housing in NYC

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Thousands of New Yorkers are waiting for the next step in the affordable housing process.

After filling out an online application on NYC Housing Connect, affordable housing hopefuls need to wait between two and 10 months to find out if their application has been selected. 

So what comes next:

“If you are selected, you will be contacted by the developer. They will invite you to an interview to verify if you meet eligibility rules. Your interview is very important. Spots are limited,” a Housing Connect document titled What to Expect explains. "Confirm your appointment immediately or reschedule if necessary. Going to the interview does not guarantee that you will receive affordable housing."

Why is a developer calling?

Each building listed on Housing Connect is privately owned and operated. The owner must follow the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development guidelines. The HPD monitors the portal and the process to ensure compliance, but ultimately, private building owners offer leases.

What documents are needed for affordable housing: 

HPD provides an extensive list of documents needed for an affordable housing application. These documents are often required to verify household employment income, residency, and assets. 

Some of the documents that may be helpful include:

• Copies of your last four to six recent pay stubs
• A copy of the previous year’s W-2 forms 
• Copies of your signed and completed most recent year’s federal and state tax returns
• A letter from all former employers in the current year and prior year stating the last date of employment
• Copies of a picture ID for all persons in the household over 18
• The full list of required documents can be found here. 

Are all these documents needed? 

“At a minimum, they need to provide one document from each category, but they can provide more,” said Aileen Reynolds, the assistant commissioner of housing opportunity at HPD. “There may be some instances where showing multiple documents may be helpful. I would say it's most crucial that folks have their most recent tax filing, pay stubs, and bank statements.” 

Providing all of the documents does not guarantee an applicant will be selected.

What happens next: 

After providing the required documents, the building developer will verify eligibility, and a city employee will review the file for accuracy. Applicants are then offered to sign a lease or put on a waiting list.

What happens to those who are not selected?

The applicant will receive a rejection letter, which can be appealed. 

What about applying for other housing lotteries?

New Yorkers can apply for as many affordable housing lotteries as they want, regardless of whether they've previously been rejected, according to Housing Connect.

Is there affordable housing assistance?

Yes, HPD partners with local nonprofits and other community-based providers to help applicants with the affordable housing process. 

For help finding a housing ambassador and other resources, click here.