NYC Housing Connect: Applying for Affordable Housing [FRONT

NYC Housing Connect: Applying for Affordable Housing

[FRONT]

What does it mean for housing to be “affordable”?

Housing is considered affordable when households spend no

more than about one-third of their income on rent. If a family

has to spend more than one-third of their income on rent,

they are considered ‘rent burdened’.

Where to go...

Begin your search for affordable housing at

nyc.gov/housingconnect

What to do…

STEP 1. LOOK

Find affordable housing listings on Housing Connect

or in newspapers.

STEP 2. LEARN

Learn about eligibility and application requirements

STEP 3. APPLY

STEP 4. WAIT and PREPARE

It may take 2 to 12 months for applications to be

processed.

STEP 5. QUALIFY

If selected, submit eligibility documents

STEP 6. SIGN or REAPPLY

Rent or buy if you are eligible. If rejected, challenge

via appeal or apply to others.

[FRONT PAGE FOOTER]

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and

Development (HPD)

New York City Housing and Development Corporation (HDC)

June 2020

This document is for informational purposes only. This is not

an application for affordable housing.

For more information, continue reading or visit us online at:

Website: www.nyc.gov/hpd

Visit nyc.gov/housingconnect

to get more information or to

apply online.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @NYCHousing

See back for more information.

NYC Housing Connect: Applying for Affordable Housing

[BACK]

STEP 1. LOOK

Find Affordable Housing Listings

Visit NYC Housing Connect to view all developments

accepting applications. NYC Housing Connect even

includes existing affordable housing units that become

available at turnover—these are called re-rental units:

nyc.gov/housingconnect

Call 311 and ask for the Affordable Housing Hotline.

Look for advertisements in newspapers and posters at

construction sites.

Contact local community organizations, including Housing

Ambassadors, for help. Find a list of Ambassadors on

HPD’s website: nyc.gov/housing-ambassadors

Read the Ad Carefully

Different affordable housing developments have different

eligibility requirements. You may fall into different

categories for different developments, depending on

your household size and income.

STEP 2. LEARN

Check to See If...

− your combined household income is between a

development’s low and high limits. Find HPD

informational guides, including the Income Guide,

at: nyc.gov/hpd/findhousing

− your household meets the unit size requirements of

the development.

− you need help understanding your credit history.

Visit one of the City’s Financial Empowerment

Centers to learn more: nyc.gov/talkmoney

Find out if you qualify for a preference. Some units are

reserved for people who...

− have a mobility, hearing, and/or vision disability.

− live in the five boroughs.

− live in the same Community District as the

development. Find yours at:

communityprofiles.planning.nyc.gov

− work for the City of New York.

STEP 3. APPLY

Apply Online

Create an account on NYC Housing Connect:

nyc.gov/housingconnect

Once you apply, developers will see your profile in real-

time, so it’s important to update your profile any time

your household situation or income changes.

Or Apply Through the Mail

Follow the instructions on the advertisement to request a

paper application by mail.

Answer all of the questions on the application to the best

of your knowledge. False or incomplete information may

disqualify you.

Sign and date your application, or it may be rejected.

Submit your application before the deadline date.

Your Chances of Being Selected are the Same...

− whether you apply online or through mail.

− no matter when you submit your application, as long

as it is before the deadline.

STEP 4. WAIT and PREPARE

Wait While Applications Are Processed

After the deadline, all of the applications are put into a

random order and assigned a log number.

The developer reviews them in log number order

(starting with those who meet preference categories) and

contacts applicants. See Step 2 for a list of preference

categories.

Prepare While You Wait

A property may receive many thousands of applications.

You may hear about the status of your application within

two to twelve months after the deadline. Use this time to

prepare to have your eligibility reviewed:

− use HPD’s informational guides:

nyc.gov/hpd/findhousing

− begin saving documents in NYC Housing Connect:

nyc.gov/housingconnect

Remember That You Might Not Hear Back

Because there are so many applications, you may not be

contacted, even if you could have qualified. You are most

likely to be contacted if you are randomly assigned a low

log number or you qualify for a preference.

STEP 5. QUALIFY

Have Your Eligibility Reviewed

If your log number comes up, the developer will contact

you to submit documents. This is to confirm that you

meet eligibility criteria.

Respond immediately, as spots are limited, and you will

only have a few business days to submit your documents.

Receiving a request for eligibility review does NOT

guarantee that you will receive affordable housing.

Submit Documentation

The developer’s request will include a list of all

documents you must provide. Prepare early (see step 4).

If you applied online, you can upload all of your

documents into Housing Connect, to share them directly

with the developer. If you applied on paper, you will be

asked to deliver your documents or submit them by mail.

Wait for Confirmation

After the developer verifies your eligibility, HPD or HDC

will review your file for accuracy. The developer will

contact you if there are questions.

STEP 6. SIGN or REAPPLY

Finalize the lease or purchase

If you are found eligible, you may be offered the choice

to sign a lease or pursue a purchase

Appeal the Decision

If you are found not eligible, you will receive a rejection

notice. If you disagree, follow the instructions on the

rejection notice to appeal the decision.

In writing, explain the reason you believe the rejection

was in error and provide supporting documentation.

The developer will contact you with the result of your

appeal. If you disagree, follow the instructions on the

appeal rejection notice to send a complaint to HPD or

HDC.

Apply to Other Opportunities

Don’t get discouraged if you don’t qualify for a

development. New affordable housing opportunities

become available all the time, and you can apply to as

many as you want.

IMPORTANT:

Do not pay any money or fee at any time to anyone for an

application to any HPD or HDC-sponsored housing project.