Affordable Housing Eligibility

exterior of building

Confirming Eligibility

If you are invited to make an appointment for the Affordable Housing Lottery you will be asked by The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development to confirm your income eligibility.​

At such time, you will need to present the documents listed below for their review.

Step 1: Household Members

  1. Birth Certificate (copy allowed)

  2. Social Security Card (original required)

  3. Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, Military ID, NYC Municipal ID, non-driver ID) (original required)

  4. Letter from student’s school verifying enrollment – only required for any household member over the age of 18 that is currently a student (NYC public/private school, college, or university)

Step 2: Income Verification

Salary or Hourly Wage Income Earners

  1. Last 6 consecutive pay stubs (copy allowed)

  2. Last year’s signed and completed federal and state tax returns (Copy allowed)

  3. Prior year’s W-2 forms (copy allowed)

  4. Bank statements that show deposits of income (copy allowed)

Self Employed

  1. Past 3 years signed form 1040, with schedule C, E or F (copy allowed)

  2. 1099s from the last 3 years (copy allowed)

  3. 3 years of state tax returns (copy allowed)

Step 3: Proof of Address

Rent your own Apartment

  1. Current lease (if you do not have a lease, provide a notarized letter from your landlord) (copy allowed)

  2. Most recent electric and gas bills (in your name and showing your current address) (copy allowed)

Living with Friend/Family

  1. Notarized letter from your housemate (copy allowed)

  2. Their lease (copy allowed)

  3. Their utility bills (copy allowed)


To submit your application for The Smile affordable housing lottery and for other useful information on the process please visit: www.nyc.gov/housingconnect

Disclaimer: The Smile does not determine eligibility guidelines for the program and is not involved in the selections made during the affordable housing lottery. 
The process in its entirety is managed by The New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development. 

Any further questions regarding the process should be directed to the New York City Affordable Housing Lottery Helpline: 212-863-7990
or email nychousingconnect@hpd.nyc.gov

Prospective Applicants are encouraged to email for the best response rate. If you do call the Helpline, please leave a detailed voicemail and someone will call you back as soon as possible

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