New Destiny Housing » Housing Connect (Housing Lottery) (2023)

NYC Housing Connect 2.0 launched on July 1, 2020 as a new online portal to search for and apply to affordable housing in New York City. Commonly referred to as the housing lottery, potential tenants are selected at random. Applying and qualifying for housing does not guarantee a unit.

If you had an account on the old Housing Connect portal, you still need to create an account on the new website.

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To apply:

  • Register at NYC Housing Connect 2.0. You will need to provide a valid e-mail address and basic contact information. Only one account per household may be created and the information can be updated at any time.
  • Enter your household information, including employment and income information for you and all household members (please note that if you have a government provided rental voucher, you may apply for all developments on the portal and will qualify as long as you fit within the income guidelines). Click here to read more about income requirements in the NYC Housing ConnectApplying for Affordable Housing:ApplicantIncome Guide
  • Enter any other information asked related to your current landlord (if any), reason for moving, and assets (if any)
  • Visit Housing Connect’s new LEARN section to watch video tutorials about using the website and read more about how the process works in the ABOUT section.
  • Keep your profile up-to-date, especially regarding income and household composition! An important feature of the new portal is that changes you make to your profile will update any pending applications.

For more information and a list of current housing opportunities please click here. For questions regarding how COVID-19 has impacted affordable housing eligibility and lottery selection, as well as more general applicant guides, visit this page.

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For low income, victims of domestic violence there are special guidelines:
  • Income eligibility guidelines:
    • Mandatory employment history for self-employment and freelance income is not required
    • Examples of income calculations are accepted
    • Increased allowances for change in household composition or income between application submission and processing
  • Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
    HPD requires the following protocol if you identify as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking:
    • VAWA Notice of Rights must be included as part of all decision notices; this includes, appointment/eligibility notice, ineligibility notice, approval notice, rejection notice or low priority notice.
    • You have 14 days to appeal a rejection under this notice
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.

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. Other factors used instead of a credit score may include:

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  • Eviction/Landlord-Tenant Action – You may be rejected for a prior eviction (with cause) within the last two years. If you are a homeless shelter client, you may be rejected for multiple evictions within the last two years.
  • You may be rejected for the following credit findings:
    • Bankruptcy filed within the last 12 months
    • Delinquencies, Collections, and Money Judgments. You may be rejected if you have an open or unsatisfied delinquencies, collections and money judgments that are more than $5,000 in total. This may include money judgments, and any accounts on the credit report that are over 120 delinquent or have been transferred to collections agency. Student loans and medical debt is not included in this total.

Positive Rental History – This is a secondary check conducted if you do not meet the credit or housing criteria mentioned above. You can provide (if you must appeal), evidence of a positive rental history that shows consistent and complete and on time rental payments for the previous 12 months. You can submit the following:

  • Canceled checks
  • Rent receipts
  • A landlord’s written record of rent payment
  • Other evidence (may be subject to agency’s approval)

Credit Criteria for Homeless Shelter Clients
Same criterias as above, with the following exceptions:

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  • If you have a credit score below 580, you may be accepted without further review of your financial stability.
  • Credit scores may be disregarded completely

Prohibited Information – The following information may not be used to determine applicant selection:

  • Debt to income ratios
  • Lack of credit history or rental history
  • Guarantors or co-signers
  • Home visits, photos/videos, or other representations of the applicant’s living situation
  • Personal references
  • Outreach to current or previous landlords, neighbors or others associated with the your living situation

Click here to see more information on the new marketing guidelines.

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FAQs

How long does it take to hear back from housing connect? ›

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.

What happens after housing connect interview? ›

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.

Does housing connect check credit score? ›

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.

What does pending application mean on housing connect? ›

You have started your application but still need to complete it. A case manager will not begin processing an application until it is submitted. Application.

How can I increase my chances of winning the NYC housing lottery? ›

  1. Be persistent and keep applying.
  2. Only submit one application per building.
  3. Keep your information up to date.
  4. Get your paperwork together.
  5. Apply to apartments in your community board.
Jul 5, 2022

How likely is it to win nyc housing lottery? ›

The New York Times estimated that applicants have about a 1 in 592 chance of winning the housing lottery.

What questions are asked in a housing interview? ›

Common Asked Housing Officer Questions
  • Can you tell me about your housing officer experience?
  • How do you assess the needs of a client?
  • What does customer service mean to you?
  • What do you look for during a housing inspection?
  • How would you have a positive effect on your colleagues and team?
Apr 26, 2019

What does shortlisted mean on link housing? ›

Once the closing date for bids has passed a shortlist of interested applicants is drawn up. The shortlist will identify the order of applicants based on who is in the highest band with the earliest band /effective date.

How do you qualify for NY 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 a good credit score for housing? ›

It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.

Which credit score is used for housing? ›

The scoring model used in mortgage applications

While the FICO® 8 model is the most widely used scoring model for general lending decisions, banks use the following FICO scores when you apply for a mortgage: FICO® Score 2 (Experian) FICO® Score 5 (Equifax) FICO® Score 4 (TransUnion)

What credit score do they look at to rent? ›

“Each landlord is different, but most landlords and property managers look for a credit score above 600,” Fluegge says. FICO® and VantageScore® credit scores typically range from 300 to 850. An applicant with a higher credit score might be considered to have shown a pattern of managing their finances responsibly.

How long does the rental process take? ›

If all forms are not completed properly first-time tenants can expect delays of up to three weeks before being allowed entry into their new property. On average first-time renters who do things by the book typically wait around one week before they are able to move into their first rental property.

How do you know you didn't get the apartment? ›

Signs You Didn't Get The Apartment
  1. Sign 1. You Have a Poor Credit Score.
  2. Sign 2. You Didn't Act Quick Enough.
  3. Sign 3. You Have a Pet.
  4. Sign 4. You're Not Making Enough.
  5. Sign 5. You Weren't Professional.
  6. Sign 6. You Have a Messy Vehicle.
  7. Sign 7. You Ignored Directions.
  8. Sign 8. You Lied.
Feb 8, 2022

What does application pending approval mean on ramp era? ›

Approved Pending Landlord This means that an ERAP Caseworker has determined that based on the information in the application, we can approve the request, but are waiting for the Landlord to provide additional information before it can be processed for payment.

What increases your chances of winning the lottery? ›

What Are Some Ways To Increase the Chance of Winning?
  1. Play the Odds. Not every lottery has astronomically low odds. ...
  2. Buy More Tickets. The obvious answer is often the best; this is a great example. ...
  3. Join a Lottery Pool. Technically, lottery pools are another way to buy more lottery tickets. ...
  4. Counter Other Strategies.

What are the odds of winning a House lottery? ›

The odds range from $5 – 1 Ticket to $1000 – $250 Tickets and your chances of winning depend on the odd you choose. For instance, for Draw 372, the chance of winning for a $5 – 1 Ticket is 1:28,000,000 while the chance for winning for a $1000 – 250 Tickets is 1:11,200.

What to do if you won the lottery? ›

But before that happens, you need to make sure you secure your winnings.
  1. Be quiet about winning. ...
  2. Make copies of the ticket, secure it. ...
  3. Try to stay anonymous. ...
  4. Decide if you want to set up a trust. ...
  5. Sign your ticket. ...
  6. Annuity or lump sum. ...
  7. Be prepared for taxes. ...
  8. Plan for the future.
Nov 8, 2022

How long does it take to hear back from NY housing lottery? ›

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.

Are you more likely to win at a casino or the lottery? ›

1 – The Lottery Has a Higher Edge than Any Casino Game

Even slot machines offer a much lower house edge, usually between 2 and 15%. Most casino games have a house edge of less than 5%. This is over 10 times less than the average lottery.

Is the NYC housing lottery random? ›

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.

What are 3 good interview questions? ›

Common interview questions
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Why are you interested in working for this company?
  • Tell me about your education.
  • Why have you chosen this particular field?
  • Describe your best/worst boss.
  • In a job, what interests you most/least?
  • What is your major weakness?

What are 10 good interview questions and answers? ›

Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers
  • Tell Me About Yourself. ...
  • Why Are You the Best Person for the Job? ...
  • Why Do You Want This Job? ...
  • How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role? ...
  • Why Are You Leaving (or Have Left) Your Job? ...
  • What Is Your Greatest Strength? ...
  • What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
Dec 10, 2022

What happens after being shortlisted? ›

Generally, shortlisting comes after finding and attracting suitable candidates. But what happens after shortlisting? After you've shortlisted your applicants, interviewing and further assessing takes place.

What does accepted for shortlisting mean? ›

To be shortlisted for an interview means that you have successfully completed an application form or produced an effective CV which has enabled you to stand out from the crowd, and meet the job criteria as specified by the employer.

How long does it take for housing benefit to be sorted? ›

The council must usually start paying housing benefit within 2 weeks of you providing all the information they need to decide your claim. If the housing benefit team cannot process your claim within this timescale, they should make an interim payment if you have a private or housing association tenancy.

Can you apply to more than one housing lottery in NYC? ›

Apply to lotteries

It may take several months for applications to be processed. You may apply to multiple different lotteries at once.

What documents do you need for NYC housing lottery? ›

NYC HOUSING CONNECT ELIGIBILITY REVIEW: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
  • Copies of last 4 to 6 most recent consecutive pay stubs.
  • Copies of last year's W-2 forms (all pages)
  • Copies of signed & completed most recent year's federal and state tax returns.

Do I qualify for housing assistance in NY? ›

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) provides decent and affordable housing in a safe and secure living environment for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs.
...
You may be eligible for an apartment if:
Person(s) in FamilyIncome Limits
1$74,800
2$85,450
3$96,150
4$106,800
11 more rows

Is 500 credit score enough to buy a house? ›

The minimum credit score needed to buy a house can range from 500 to 700, but will ultimately depend on the type of mortgage loan you're applying for and your lender. While it's possible to get a mortgage with bad credit, you typically need good or exceptional credit to qualify for the best terms.

What is the lowest acceptable credit score to buy a house? ›

The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is typically around 620. However, government-backed mortgages like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans typically have lower credit requirements than conventional fixed-rate loans and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs).

What is the lowest credit score to buy a house? ›

Generally speaking, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 in order to secure a loan to buy a house. That's the minimum credit score requirement most lenders have for a conventional loan. With that said, it's still possible to get a loan with a lower credit score, including a score in the 500s.

What is the lowest credit score to rent an apartment? ›

What Credit Score Do You Need To Rent an Apartment? While a FICO credit score from 580-669 is considered fair credit, 620 is often the minimum credit score you'll need to rent an apartment. If your score is lower than 620, it could be more difficult to rent an apartment.

Can I get an apartment with a 500 credit score? ›

In short, yes! A credit score of 500 is low, but it's not insurmountable. It would be best if you planned some extra time for your apartment hunt with scores this low, but you can still rent an apartment.

What credit score will get you denied for an apartment? ›

When you apply to rent an apartment, you can expect nearly all landlords to run a credit check. As a general rule, you'll want a credit score of 620 or higher to secure a rental.

Can you fail a rental credit check? ›

Tenants often fail credit checks because their salary is deemed too low for them to comfortably afford the rent. Agencies will expect their gross pay to be at least twice the rent, sometimes as high as three times the rent, and they will automatically fail anyone earning less.

Do landlords check TransUnion or Equifax? ›

Landlords use Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to review your credit report and score. There is no industry standard for apartments, but your landlord may prefer using one report over another.

Can landlords see your credit score? ›

Before you rent an apartment, the landlord can check your credit history. You may also be asked to pay a holding deposit. If a credit check is requested, the landlord will check your credit history through a credit reporting agency. Landlords usually do this before deciding if they will rent to you.

Should I follow up on my rental application? ›

It is always a good idea to end the showing on a positive note. So after you have filled out the application, given the copies of pay stubs, your photo ID and credit report if you have it, to the landlord. Then it's a great idea so follow-up with a little note or text message about an hour or two after the showing.

How long does it take to get accepted to rent a house? ›

All in all, it should only take about two or three days for you to complete your tenant screening. It may take longer if there are delays. This could be from the tenant, their employer or their previous landlord providing the information you request from them. This brings us neatly onto the tenant screening process.

How long do most apartment applications take? ›

In most cases, the rental application process is relatively straightforward. It should take somewhere from 24 to 72 hours. But sometimes it's longer; it's all based on the property manager's and landlord's ability to verify your (and possibly others') screening information.

What can cause you to not get an apartment? ›

A landlord may reject you for poor credit history, income that a reasonable businessperson would deem insufficient to pay the rent, negative references from a previous landlord or employer, a criminal conviction, or a prior eviction lawsuit (even one that you won).

What not to put on a rental application? ›

It can be classified as discrimination by the Fair Housing Act if an application asks:
  • The birthplace of the applicant.
  • The sexual orientation of the applicant.
  • Any disabilities that the applicant has.
  • About the applicant's children.
  • The religion of the applicant.

Can I ask why my rental application was denied? ›

There is no formal appeal process however, if you feel though as your application was denied incorrectly you can certainly follow back up with the leasing agent, property manager, or landlord and ask to provide additional clarification or information which may help change their mind in approving your application.

How long does it take to hear back from Orlando Housing Authority? ›

How long does will it take for the Orlando Housing Authority to approve/disapprove the request for tenancy approval? Typically, the Orlando Housing Authority will notify the tenant of the status of the RFTA within ten (10) days.

How long does it take for a Nycha interview? ›

How long does it take to get an interview after you apply at NYC Housing Authority? 2 months, the interview is easy. How long do the process take if u live in housing?

How long does it take for rental assistance application to be approved in Florida? ›

Once a complete tenant and a complete landlord application are submitted, all documentation will be reviewed for eligibility and verified. If direct deposit is the selected payment method, transfer of funds may be expected within 18 days of when a complete application is filed.

How much is a Section 8 voucher for a family of 4 in Florida? ›

Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher Eligibility
Miami-Dade County, FL HMFA MFI: $59,100Extremely Low Income Limit 30% of MedianLow Income Limit 80% of Median
3 Person$24,700$65,800
4 Person$27,400$73,100
5 Person$30,680$78,950
6 Person$35,160$84,800
4 more rows

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