How often do you hear people say, “No one wins those housing lotteries, so why enter?” That was my feeling, too — until I entered and actually won, joining an exclusive club of NYC housing lottery winners. But let me tell you: It wasn’t easy.
To apply, I had to prove my income qualification, provide tons of paperwork, track my application on the NYC Housing Connect lottery website, interview with the building developers, and all the while try to remain patient and optimistic. It was a months-long process, and at times it was quite stressful. But, in the end, it was worth it. I landed a rent-stabilized 1-bedroom in a brand-new building in Brooklyn. I can now proudly call myself an NYC housing lottery winner.
It all went down one night in late October 2016, when I picked up a call from an unknown number. “Hello? Miss Turner? This is MHANY Management. I just wanted to let you know that your application has been approved.” I froze, thinking I’d heard her wrong.
“Your application has been approved by the city. Congrats. You’re now a NYC housing lottery winner. The building will contact you with further instructions.”
“Um…” I couldn’t think what else to say, but managed to blurt out, “Thanks for the update!”
I won! My instant jubilation was followed by a flash of skepticism: But did I really? Can I celebrate without actually signing a lease? I decided, yes! Yes, I can! I pranced around my Bed-Stuy studio, doing an excellent rendition of “We Are the Champions.”
Up until that moment, my apartment experience in NYC had been a complete rollercoaster. I’d had bathroom ceilings cave in, floods, and carbon monoxide and gas leaks — at the same time. To say that I was thrilled at the prospect of living in a structurally sound building with in-unit laundry would be an understatement, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up.
As far as I was concerned, it wasn’t real until I signed the lease. Despite my initial skepticism, one month later, I was in a new high-rise in Downtown Brooklyn picking out an apartment. A month after that, I signed the lease and moved in. So how did I do it? Here are some tips that helped me win the NYC housing lottery.
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Before getting started, let’s clear up a basic misconception. You don’t have to be poor to qualify for, or win, the housing lottery. NYC Housing Connect, as the housing lottery website is officially known, accepts applicants from a range of income levels. To qualify, you need to fall within a specific lottery’s required income range.
Income requirements are based on the Area Median Income, or AMI, and will vary from one lottery to the next. Once you determine what percent of the AMI you earn, you can search for lotteries you qualify for on the NYC Housing Connect website. To be sure you meet the income requirements, click on the hyperlinked building name. From there, you can view the building’s available units and income requirements.
After you find a lottery accepting applicants within your AMI, you must set up an account on NYC Housing Connect using your most recent tax return information. Once you create an account, you’ll want to check it regularly to make sure all the information is up to date. This is crucial when it comes to applying for lotteries: One of the most common reasons for housing lottery rejection is that your current information doesn’t match what’s on your application. For example, if your income or marital status changes, you must update your account accordingly.
If you live with a roommate, spouse, or significant other, you’ll need to include their financial information as well. It’s also important to make note of the total annual income of all working adults who will be living in the apartment, as well as the total number of occupants, as this will determine the size and rent of your apartment.
Once you’ve registered on the Housing Connect site, you can opt to get email notices whenever new lotteries open up. If you keep your account up to date, all you have to do is click the “apply” button next to your building of choice, and voilà! You’re in the running.
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I planned to live alone, so I applied with just my own income. Once my application was accepted, I was offered a choice between applying for a studio or a 1-bedroom, since my income and occupancy fit both brackets. I opted for the 1-bedroom and got lucky.
I wasn’t given the option to apply for a 2-bedroom, because my occupancy and income information didn’t match up with what was required. In other words, the combined income of you and your roommates and your bedroom needs will determine the cost and size of your apartment. After determining your apartment size, you then can select your preferred neighborhood.
When you apply for a housing lottery on NYC Housing Connect, you must indicate whether you wish to receive communications from the developer via email or snail mail. If you select snail mail, make sure to check your physical mail box regularly. I nearly missed my interview notification because I didn’t regularly check my mail, and if you miss the deadline to schedule an interview, you don’t get a second chance. If you opt for email, be sure to check your spam, clutter, and promotion folders regularly too.
Be prepared to wait. It can take months for the developers to vet all the applicants. If you don’t hear back immediately, don’t lose hope. Continue to apply for other lotteries to increase your odds of becoming an NYC housing lottery winner, and keep track of all lotteries you apply to.
Once you’ve been selected for an interview, you’ll need to produce a ton of paperwork. Since it’s very likely you will be contacted within short notice, it’s best to have everything ready to go beforehand. Have a packet handy that includes multiple copies of the following:
You may be asked to produce additional documents, but these are a good start. If you have questions about the documentation requested, call well before your appointment for clarification. Make sure you bring the required documentation: Failure to do so will lead to disqualification.
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After the paperwork is in and you’ve interviewed, it’s a waiting game. I went months without hearing from MHANY Management, the nonprofit running my lottery. What little communication I received was sporadic and often redundant. I’d get a call to re-submit documents I knew I already turned in, or I’d get asked to come in to sign off on background or credit checks. I probably sent in four copies of my Social Security card to different staff members over the course of the application process.
My building has some awesome amenities, including common outdoor space and a gym, but they are not free: Using them costs an extra $45 a month. All residents have to pay for them, though, and the cost is less than what I would pay for a regular gym, so I don’t mind.
In fact, I have to admit that the amenities and building staff have really improved my quality of life, even if my annual savings have not changed drastically. I feel far safer now that I live in a doorman building, and it is a huge relief to know that I won’t be saddled with a major sudden rent hike. At this point, the only thing that would get me to leave my apartment, with its in-unit washer and dryer, would be winning the actual lottery.
Be patient! Jumping through the hoops and seemingly endless paperwork was, to put it mildly, stressful. In total, the lottery application process took a little less than a year from the time I submitted my application to the building and the day I moved in. I received final approval at the end of October 2016 and moved in by the end of January 2017. I had applied to about 10 or 15 different lotteries starting in 2015.
One final note: While winning the housing lottery was a complete game-changer for me, it isn’t a magic solution to affording life in New York City. Yes, my apartment is $1,000 less than what other 1-bedrooms in the building go for, but I actually pay more in rent than I did before. Of course, the new apartment is a major upgrade, but it’s wrong to assume all affordable housing is cheaper than what’s on the market. Right now, I am paying $200 per month more than what I paid for the studio I was previously subletting in Bed-Stuy. Still, I’m thrilled. Now all my friends want to know how I did it, and I send them lottery info whenever new ones open up.
[This post has been updated and republished.]
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