June 16, 2020

By Monica Morales (Read the story and watch the vide on PIX11)

Every year, thousands of people apply for a limited number of units in the hottest lottery around — the NYC affordable housing lottery — hoping to score an affordable apartment in New York City.

People wind up on waiting lists for years. Now, the city is trying to help streamline the process, by adding 2,500 new affordable homes starting this summer and revamping its online application process, promising to fix the glitches in the system.

Since 2013, the city agency that runs the lottery has seen more than 25 million applications submitted for about 40,000 units.

In the past, the odds of snagging an affordable place was about 1 in 1,000.

Now, New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Louise Carroll said they are trying to improve the system.

First, HPD is adding more units, starting with 2,500 additional affordable apartments that will be available be this summer.

Carroll said they have now created a new online application system that is easier to navigate. It’s called Housing Connect 2.0.

“This system takes away the confusion. Its easy, it’s fast, and it’s transparent,” said Carroll.

On the new site, a city resident can create a profile and enter their household information on their phone or computer.

For the first time, an applicant can find out immediately what affordable housing options are available. Since it’s a lottery system, Carroll suggested making a profile now, so renters are ready to apply for these units as soon as they become available starting in July. Renters can even get alerts to their phone.

To visit the new website, click here.