June 16, 2020

Press Office: hpdmedia@hpd.nyc.gov or pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov 

NEW YORK—Today, Mayor de Blasio announced the launch of the new NYC Housing Connect, New Yorkers’ central resource for finding and applying for affordable housing. Significant upgrades on the new portal make applying for affordable housing quicker and easier.  The new system streamlines the application process, provides New Yorkers with a clear picture of the opportunities they can apply for and includes more types of housing than ever before.

“This pandemic not only caused a health crisis — it has caused an economic one as well. As stress is mounting on families across the city, we are fighting to ensure all New Yorkers are supported,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The new and improved NYC Housing Connect will make applying for affordable housing easier than ever at a time that we know families need all the help they can get.”

“This pandemic has laid bare the vulnerabilities of our city, and shown how important safe, high quality, affordable housing is for all New Yorkers and all neighborhoods. With NYC Housing Connect, New Yorkers will have a powerful tool that helps them zero in on the right opportunities for their families and makes the process of documenting their eligibility much easier,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been.

“After years of producing affordable housing at a record pace, the new version of NYC Housing Connect will make navigating the city’s many affordable housing opportunities easier. With feedback from New Yorkers, we’ve revamped the system to put people first by connecting applicants to the options best suited for their households and providing a user-centered application experience,” said Louise Carroll, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. “The record number of affordable housing we’ve financed over the last few years means that thousands of new homes will be available to apply for on the new portal in the coming months. I thank Mayor de Blasio, Council Member Ben Kallos and other members of the City Council for their partnership on this exciting development.”

“At a time when finding affordable housing can seem more challenging than ever, the new and improved Housing Connect system will provide a more user-friendly experience for anyone navigating the online search and application process,” said HDC President Eric Enderlin. “I commend our colleagues for the hard work they put into these efforts to make affordable housing opportunities even more accessible to New Yorkers.”

With more than one million active users, NYC Housing Connect is one of the largest affordable housing resources in the nation. Now, applicants will be better able to search for the affordable housing opportunities that suit their household size, income, and needs, and can be matched to re-rental and resale opportunities in existing buildings. With the new site, users create an application profile based on guided, easy-to-answer questions, that generate a well-honed picture of the projects they qualify for.

A Streamlined User Experience

HPD teamed with user-design experts and collected public feedback to make significant upgrades to Housing Connect, including: 

• More affordable housing opportunities: In addition to new affordable rentals, the new website will also host homeownership opportunities and re-rentals of affordable homes that went through the lottery previously.
• Customizable search: Filter for the right opportunities directly on the website, searching by borough, income, household size, and more options like pet-friendliness.
• Enhanced application process: We’ll help you calculate your income accurately and help you determine up front what you’re eligible for.
• Streamlined selection process: Submit documents electronically, receive real-time alerts for important deadlines, and move through the process faster.
• Mobile-friendly design: Soon applicants can apply more easily from the convenience of a phone, tablet and other mobile devices.

Starting in July, all future affordable housing opportunities will appear on the new website, with nearly 2,500 affordable homes coming online this summer. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up on the new website now to begin the application process and receive alerts on future vacancies. Explore the new NYC Housing Connect. The original Housing Connect website, created under the Bloomberg Administration, will be phased out after all the rental opportunities posted on it are filled. 

“Tens of thousands of affordable homes are about to be on the market for those who need them most,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “No more affordable housing units being offered illegally at market rates by owners. New Yorkers will now be able to apply easily and have a chance at winning affordable housing in our City's lottery system. Two thousand five hundred units this summer is more than we’ve ever seen on the Housing Connect at any one time and this is just the beginning. Thank you to Mayor Bill de Blasio for his unprecedented investment in affordable housing as well as Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Louise Carroll and her staff for her partnership in using technology to reform the affordable housing system to help more New Yorkers.”  

“Affordable housing is very much tied to workforce availability and the vibrancy of our communities,” said Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), Chair of the Assembly’s Housing Committee. “I’m pleased that the revamped Housing Connect will make it easier for New Yorkers to locate affordable housing opportunities and, in doing so, take a positive step in enhancing their own lives and the lives of their families.”