Lotteries

What is a community preference?

The City gives preference for either the sale or rental of 50% of all homes, co-ops, condominiums, and rental apartments it creates or rehabilitates to current residents of the community board district where the homes are located. All applicants must meet the individual program requirements to be eligible and be selected by lottery. The community preference was established to provide greater housing opportunities for long-time residents of New York City neighborhoods where HPD has made a significant investment in housing. Preference is also given to active duty uniformed NYC police officers, people who are mobility-impaired, and people who are vision-impaired.

What is the lottery process?

Apartments that are subsidized by the City, by the New York State Housing Finance Agency, and by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) are advertised in local newspapers. Listings of available apartments may also be found at these Web sites: www.nyc.gov/hpd. www.nychdc.com. and www.dhcr.state.ny.us. Additionally, HPD has an Affordable Housing Hotline that describes available apartments and provides information on obtaining an application. For further information, please call 311 (311 can be accessed outside of New York City by dialing 212-NEW-YORK).

To participate in a lottery, you must complete an application form and mail it to the developer within the specified application period. The newspaper advertisement should provide you with information on (1) income guidelines, (2) who to contact, (3) where to mail your request for an application, and (4) where to mail your completed application. Deadlines for applications will also be noted in the advertisement.

One week after the application deadline, the applications are retrieved and then randomly selected. Based on the relevant information from the application, a list of qualified applicants will be created. The number of names on the list will be at least 20 times the number of apartments available. Interviews with applicants will be scheduled after the drawing. All applicants must meet the individual program requirements to be eligible and receive the community preference. No application fee or broker fee is required. If an applicant passes the interview, the developer may require a fee to conduct a credit check on the applicant.

Do I have to write my social security number and bank account number in applications for housing lotteries?

No, you do not have to include your social security number and bank account number in applications. If you are selected in the lottery, you will be called for an interview. If you are eligible for the apartment, the developer may then request your social security number and bank account number to do a credit check or to verify your income.

Would my application for HPD-sponsored housing be considered if I have bad credit or a bankruptcy?

A private developer has a right to refuse an applicant on the grounds of bad credit or a bankruptcy, according to HPD’s marketing guidelines.

What happens after the lottery is completed?

After the drawing, the developer schedules interviews (in numerical order of the log sheet) with prospective homeowners. To make the process more efficient, HPD strongly recommends that the developer interview applicants who meet the various preference requirements (resident of Community Board district where development is located, active duty uniformed NYC police officers, mobility-impaired, vision-impaired) prior to interviewing other applicants. All applicants must meet the individual program requirements to be eligible and receive the community preference. No application fee or broker fee is required. If an applicant passes the interview, the developer may require a fee to conduct a credit check on the applicant

How long does the interview process for renting a City-sponsored apartment or purchasing a City-sponsored home take?

Generally, the interview process is completed within one month after the application deadline. Due to the large volume of applications submitted for each development, only applicants selected for an interview will be called regarding the status of their application.

What does it mean if I don’t receive a call requesting an interview?

Applicants will not receive a call for an interview if 1) their application was not drawn before the developer reached the amount that corresponds to 20 times the number of homes/apartments available for sale or rent; 2) they did not meet the eligibility requirements for the program through which the home/apartment was developed, or 3) their application was received after the deadline.