Getting Placed through Housing Lotteries - Coalition For The Homeless (2024)

FAQs

Getting Placed through Housing Lotteries - Coalition For The Homeless? ›

You can request an application by sending a postcard or a self-addressed envelope to the address provided for each development, or you can go in person to the address provided to pick up an application. Another option is to create an account and apply online through NYC Connect.

When Will You Hear Back? A property may receive tens of thousands of applications. You may hear about the status of your application within two to ten months after the deadline. However, because there are so many applications, you may not be contacted, even if you could have qualified.

Find affordable housing listings on Housing Connect or in newspapers. Learn about eligibility and application requirements. Register and apply online or mail your application in. It may take 2 to 12 months for applications to be processed.

Apply to lotteries

Check often for new developments that fit your household. It may take several months for applications to be processed. You may apply to multiple different lotteries at once.

The EHV Program helps families and individuals who are experienceing homelessness; at-risk of homelessness; fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; or recently homeless and at high risk of housing instability to find housing by subsidizing a ...

But winning the housing lottery is a pipe dream for most applicants: In 2018, The New York Times reported that the odds of winning were 1 in 592. But luck was on the couple's side. "This actually happened very fast for us," McManimie, 35, said. "I think we applied to this building in April 2023.

In order to be eligible, you must be 18 years old, and your household income needs to be in a specific range for each affordable housing opportunity. Applicants will be required to meet additional guidelines, including asset limits, and tenant selection criteria to qualify.

Credit Criteria for General Applicants. You may not be rejected solely because of your credit score, your score may only be used as an indicator of financial stability. You may be accepted with a FICO credit score of 580 without further review of financial stability.

After your interview a City employee will review your file for accuracy and may contact you if there are any questions. If your eligibility is confirmed you may be placed on a waiting list or invited to sign a lease. If you are found ineligible you will receive a rejection letter.

Where can I sleep if I am homeless in NYC? ›

The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) homeless shelter system provides temporary, emergency shelter. If you are a homeless family, a single pregnant woman, or a single adult, you can apply to enter the shelter system at an intake center. DHS does not provide transportation services to the shelter.

Anyone can dial 311 to access the NYC emergency shelter hotline and learn about the shelter intake process. Single men must apply for shelter in-person at the 30th Street Intake Center at 400-430 East 30th Street in Manhattan. The entrance is at 30th Street and 1st Avenue. The shelter is open 24 hours a day.

There are no limits on how long you can stay in shelter, as long as you are following the shelters rules. If you are given a move out date and do not have permanent housing identified, come into the Crisis Intervention Program to speak with an advocate.

You typically hear about the status of your application within two to ten months after the deadline, but in some cases where so many applications have been received, you may need to follow-up to ask about your status.

You may be accepted with a FICO credit score of 580 without further review of financial stability. If your score is below 580, you may not be rejected unless you fail to meet other factors associated to eviction/landlord-tenant action and other credit findings.

Post Application Process:

Once you apply to a particular NYC apartment lottery, it gets randomly assigned a number. As a rule, the lower the number, the better your odds. Once the date closed, HDP will vet them and it might take a long time since the process is slow. So don't grow anxious if you don't hear for a while.

Income Eligibility. Eligibility for HDC-financed developments is based on household annual income before taxes, and other criteria.