He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (2024)

When Josh Ayala first received a call about a Brooklyn apartment he'd applied for under New York City's affordable-housing lottery, he was surprised.

It was February 2023, more than 8 months since he sent in his application for that apartment building.

"I was like, wait, what? I totally forgot I applied to this," Ayala, 26, told Business Insider.

The affordable-housing lotteries are run by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, or HPD, and the Housing Development Corporation.

Advertisement

Ayala was 21 when he first learned about the program from a colleague at his old job.

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (1)

"Someone was talking about the New York City Housing Connect, and they mentioned how you could move into new buildings with affordable rent," Ayala said. "I wasn't ready to move out yet, but I thought it was a good program. I want to make sure I apply to this when I do want to move."

Fast-forward two years, and it was finally time for him to strike out on his own.

He was coming from a three-bedroom home in Queens, where he lived with his family.

Advertisement

At that time, Ayala had just left his job to pursue his passion in the creative field and was accepted into One School, a program aimed at helping Black creatives craft a portfolio to work in the ad industry.

"I had already been applying for homes during the program," Ayala said. "Literally, as soon as I ended that program and got recruited for a job, that's when I started to hear back from places."

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (2)

One apartment to 450 applicants

To qualify for a lottery apartment, each household must meet specific income requirements, which vary across developments depending on unit size and location.

Both rental and homeownership units are available, and application is free.

Advertisement

While applicants don't need to be US citizens, NYC residents get priority, Aileen Reynolds, the assistant commissioner of housing opportunity at HPD, told BI.

But competition is stiff: According to the HPD, on average, there are 450 applications received per rental unit.

Related stories

Ayala, an art director, said he sent out more than 60 applications for different buildings all across NYC. He wanted a spacious apartment with plenty of natural light.

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (3)

"I feel like in New York, so much of the year is cold or gloomy during the winter. If I'm going to be in a small space and then not have light, it's going to be very bad for my mental health," Ayala said. "I was also looking at proximity to things to do and the subway — I didn't want to be very far removed from things happening."

Advertisement

Despite viewing a couple of different apartments prior, none of them stood out to him like his current place — in Greenpoint — which checked off all the items on his list.

The studio had large windows and came with both a washer and dryer and a dishwasher. It was also six minutes from an East River Route ferry terminal, with East 34th Street in Manhattan as the next stop, and an eight-minute walk from the Greenpoint Avenue subway station.

Ayala knew he'd found the right space. Within a month of the viewing, he was offered the apartment and signed the lease. In June 2023, he moved in.

He recently renewed his lease for another year and now pays $2,345 in rent monthly and $230 for the building's amenity fees.

Advertisement

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (4)

The median monthly rent for a studio apartment in Greenpoint is $3,988, according to the latest August data from RentHop.com.

"Lease offers are always one or two years — it's the applicant's choice — and then they have to be offered a renewal," Reynolds said. "The city's rent stabilization program also restricts how much the rent can go up each year."

And the income and household size requirements apply only during the initial move-in, Reynolds added.

"Of course, if they're anticipating a change in their household that they know about at the time of move-in, they should disclose that. But if it's something that unexpectedly happens several months or even years in, there's no impact on their lease or their apartment situation," Reynolds said.

Advertisement

An apartment of his own

Ayala said the day he moved into the apartment felt surreal because it was his first home.

"And I didn't have anything really yet because I've never been in an apartment, so I had to buy all new things or find things for my space. So it felt like a very blank canvas," he added.

He estimated the apartment to be about 500 square feet but said the abundance of natural light made it feel more spacious.

"In a way, I'm glad. If it were any bigger, it would be more complicated to clean, maintain, and furnish," Ayala said.

Advertisement

Ayala's apartment is cozy, colorful, and filled with art pieces — many of which are his own.

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (5)

It's hard to describe his space as any one theme, though he said he liked midcentury and Scandinavian styles. One thing's for sure — he believes in investing in quality furniture pieces.

"I have spent a good amount of money on my couch, my table, and stuff like that. But to me, the way that I view it is there are pieces that can last me literally forever," Ayala said, adding that he could always resell them or give them away if he didn't want them anymore.

Moving into this apartment also got him even more interested in interior design — so much so that he's even started a TikTok channel to document his journey transforming and decorating his space.

Advertisement

"I would say investing in your space and making it your style is also important. I'm not just filling a space because I need a couch, so I'm just going to buy any couch and throw it out when I get my dream house," Ayala said. "To me, that's wasteful too."

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (6)

A life-changing opportunity

Living in NYC doesn't come cheap,and housing is an even bigger headache: Themedian sales price for homeshit $785,000 in early 2024, while themedian rent in NYCis$3,684. All while city housing inventory is at its lowest since 1968.

Not only that, but rents in NYC increased seven times as fast as wages from 2022 to 2023, a StreetEasy analysis found. Even the city's tech workers — who make $135,000 on average — can't afford to rent most of the apartments on the market.

And that's why Ayala is also passionate about sharing his housing-lottery journey with his followers on TikTok.

Advertisement

"I'm surprised at how many, who are from New York and have lived there their whole lives, don't know that this program even exists, Ayala said.

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (7)

Even though it takes time — sometimes even years — for people to hear back or be successful in their bid, winning the housing lottery could, quite literally, be life-changing.

That's why he recommends applying to as many places under the housing lottery as possible.

"I feel like a lot of people close the door on opportunities that could potentially come their way before even applying," Ayala said. "Be open to exploring different areas of the city because you literally never know when you'll get a call back or get the chance to view an apartment."

Advertisement

He suggests keeping important documents — such as birth certificates, bank documents, and pay slips — on hand so that they can be easily retrieved when required during the housing-lottery application process.

It also helps to ensure the files are labeled correctly for ease of review.

"The person who is going to review the applications is not going to know what it is, and they're going to have to go in and see what each thing is," Ayala said. "But if you make that process easier for people, it also makes it easier for them to reach out to you more quickly."

Have you recently built or renovated your dream home? If you've got a story to share, get in touch with me at agoh@businessinsider.com.

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. (2024)

FAQs

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment.? ›

He won the NYC housing lottery after applying more than 60 times. Now, he pays $2,300 in rent for his Brooklyn apartment. Josh Ayala, 26, won the New York City affordable-housing lottery after applying for about a year. His monthly rent for a studio apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, is $2,345.

What happens after you win the NYC housing lottery? ›

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.

What is the salary cap for the housing lottery in NYC? ›

Eligibility for Public Housing
Person(s) in FamilyIncome Limits
187,100
2$99,550
3$111,950
4$124,400
11 more rows

Are NYC housing lottery apartments rent stabilized? ›

The New York City housing lottery program helps residents find affordable housing, including rent-stabilized apartments.

What credit score do you need for NYC housing lottery? ›

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.

How long does it take to hear from the NYC housing lottery? ›

When Will You Hear Back? A property may receive from 1,000 to 40,000 or more 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 qualify for the property for which you applied.

How likely are you to win the NYC housing lottery? ›

How Likely are you to Win the NYC Housing Lottery? The odds of winning the NYC housing lottery vary depending on the number of applicants, the number of available units, and the specific requirements of the lottery. Generally, the odds of winning are low, 1 in 592.

What is the 80/20 rule in New York City housing? ›

How can I find “80/20” housing in NYC? Under the “80/20” program, 20% of the units in certain newly constructed buildings are set aside for low- and moderate-income households. The rest (the 80%) of the units are rented at market rates.

Can you apply to multiple housing lotteries NYC? ›

You can apply for as many opportunities as you are eligible for, but it is important to pay attention to the deadline for applying and to make sure that you only submit one application for each development.

Is NYC housing lottery income net or gross? ›

Most people will report gross income on their applications. People who are self-employed report net income from self- employment instead. Income: Earnings, wages, payments, or other money you receive. Income from Employment: Income for work you do for an employer (not yourself).

What is the average rent stabilized rent in NYC? ›

While the median gross rent in Manhattan for stabilized units is about $1,500, it is around $3,000 for unregulated units.

Is the NYC housing lottery random? ›

In each lottery, a computer randomly assigns numbers to each application. The lower the number, the more likely the applicant will be contacted to potentially win an apartment. Over 4.6 million people applied to the NYC housing lottery in 2018. That put the odds of winning at just 1 in 592 last year.

Can you evict a rent stabilized tenant NYC? ›

Under the Rent Stabilization Law, an owner may begin an eviction proceeding when the current lease expires, but only after the tenant is given written notice that the lease will not be renewed. This notice must be served at least 90 and not more than 150 days before the current lease term expires.

How many people apply to NYC housing lottery? ›

Since 2013, there have been more than 25 million applications submitted for roughly 40,000 units.

How do you get chosen for the NYC housing lottery? ›

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.

What is the credit rating for the New York City housing Authority? ›

S&P Global Ratings' issuer credit rating (ICR) on New York City Housing Development Corp. (HDC) is 'AA'. The outlook is stable. An ICR reflects the obligor's general creditworthiness and its capacity and willingness to meet financial commitments when...

What happens when you win the lottery in New York? ›

Your claim will be processed on-site unless your prize is a Jackpot win, a Mega Millions prize of $500,000 or more, or a Powerball prize of $50,000 or more. These claims will be provided to the Lottery's Schenectady headquarters for processing.

How many people apply to the NYC housing lottery? ›

Since 2013, there have been more than 25 million applications submitted for roughly 40,000 units.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6577

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.