If you have been priced out of Queens or quietly resigned to paying half your paycheck for a one-bedroom you do not love, the next two weeks are the most important window the borough has offered renters all year. Two large affordable housing lotteries — Astoria Cove Phase 1(A) in Astoria and The Barnett at 50-25 Barnett Avenue in Sunnyside — both close in early June 2026. Between them, more than 220 income-restricted apartments are up for grabs, with monthly rents starting at $545 for a Sunnyside studio and topping out around $3,600 for a Long Island City-adjacent two-bedroom.
This is the kind of opportunity that comes around in Queens maybe twice a year. And because most New Yorkers either do not hear about these in time or assume they will never win, the applicant pools are smaller than people think. Here is exactly what is open, who qualifies, and how to put yourself in the running before the postmark deadlines hit.
The Barnett — Sunnyside, Queens (deadline June 8, 2026)
This is the headline opportunity. The Barnett at 50-25 Barnett Avenue is a brand-new eight-story building developed by Phipps Houses — one of the most experienced affordable housing developers in New York — with 185 total residences. Through NYC Housing Connect, 146 of those units are reserved for residents earning 30% to 80% of the area median income (AMI), which translates to eligible household incomes between $22,492 and $160,720. Heat and hot water are included in the rent.
The rent breakdown is striking. At the 30% AMI band, two studios are renting at $545 per month, eight one-bedrooms at $693, and six two-bedrooms at $814. At the 80% AMI band, ten studios go for $1,760, 47 one-bedrooms for $2,211, 27 two-bedrooms for $2,636, and eight three-bedrooms for $3,031. For context, the average rent for a Queens apartment in 2026 is running around $3,906 according to RentCafe market data, so even the 80% AMI three-bedroom comes in roughly $900 a month under the borough average.
Amenities include a shared laundry room, recreation room, children’s playroom, package lockers, concierge, on-site resident manager, and green space, with pet-friendly policies. The building sits within walking distance of the 7 train at 52nd Street and the M and R trains at Northern Boulevard, plus Q104, Q18, and Q32 bus lines and two Citi Bike docks on Barnett Avenue and 39th Avenue.
Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than June 8, 2026. Apply through NYC Housing Connect at housingconnect.nyc.gov or directly through the developer at phippsny.org/the-barnett-housing-lottery.
Astoria Cove Phase 1(A) — Astoria, Queens (deadline June 2, 2026)
Astoria Cove is the larger, more amenity-heavy waterfront project at 4-34 and 4-42 26th Avenue. Phase 1(A) consists of a pair of buildings — one 26 stories, one seven stories — that together yield 731 residences, of which 75 are being released through NYC Housing Connect for households earning 80% to 130% AMI. Eligible household income ranges from $77,829 to $227,500, which is the band where most middle-income working New Yorkers actually live.
At 80% AMI, the listing includes 12 studios at $2,126 per month and 15 one-bedrooms. At 130% AMI, there are three studios at $3,384, 13 one-bedrooms at $3,518, and five two-bedrooms at $3,600. Compared to the May 2026 median rent in Long Island City — $4,436 for a one-bedroom according to RentCafe — even the 130% AMI tier is roughly $900 cheaper for a one-bedroom and over $2,700 cheaper for a two-bedroom.
The catch with Astoria Cove is that it is income-band specific. You cannot earn less than the floor (e.g., $77,829 for the lowest tier) or more than the ceiling for the band you are applying into. If you are a freelancer or your income changed in 2025, gather your most recent pay stubs, 1099s, and 2024 tax return before you start the application — Housing Connect will ask for documentation if you are selected.
Applications close June 2, 2026. Apply at housingconnect.nyc.gov.
How NYC Housing Connect actually works in 2026
Most people who never win a lottery never win because they apply to one or two listings and then give up. The math does not work that way. NYC Housing Connect lets you create one profile and apply to as many open lotteries as you qualify for, with no application fee, and each lottery is a separate random drawing. Apartment-hunting on Housing Connect is closer to a lottery ticket strategy than an apartment search — the more applications you put in across buildings you would actually live in, the better your odds.
The other 2026 update worth knowing: since May 2025, the city has been operating under a waiver — recently extended through April 30, 2027 according to reporting from THE CITY — that lets landlords publicly advertise vacant affordable units that have already been through a lottery once. That means apartments in older Housing Connect buildings can now show up on StreetEasy or directly from leasing offices on a first-come, first-served basis. If you do not win one of the June lotteries, ask the building’s leasing office whether any re-rentals are open or coming up. Income eligibility still applies — the landlord has to verify you fall inside the original income band for that specific unit.
Action Steps
- Create or update your Housing Connect profile at housingconnect.nyc.gov. Use your real, current annual household income — Housing Connect will only show you listings you qualify for.
- Apply to The Barnett (50-25 Barnett Avenue, Sunnyside) by June 8, 2026 if your household income falls between $22,492 and $160,720.
- Apply to Astoria Cove Phase 1(A) by June 2, 2026 if your household income falls between $77,829 and $227,500.
- Apply to every other open Queens lottery you qualify for in the same session — including the 50-unit lottery at 34-20 Junction Boulevard in Corona, which closes June 16, 2026.
- Save digital copies of your most recent pay stubs, last filed tax return, and photo ID in one folder. If you get pulled from the lottery, you typically have a short window to submit documentation.
- If you do not win, do not delete your profile. Check StreetEasy and the building leasing offices for re-rentals at affordable rates under the city’s waiver program through April 2027.
FAQ
How much does it cost to apply to an NYC affordable housing lottery?
Nothing. There is no application fee for any lottery on NYC Housing Connect. If someone is charging you a fee to “help” you apply, walk away — community groups and NYC HRA partners help for free.
Can I apply if I already have an apartment?
Yes. You do not need to be homeless or facing eviction to qualify. You just need to fall inside the income band for the specific unit, and you need to be able to move if selected.
What happens if my income changes between applying and being selected?
The city verifies income at the time you are pulled from the lottery, which can be months or even a year after you applied. If your income is now too high or too low for the band, you may be disqualified for that unit but you stay eligible for other lotteries.
Do I have a better chance if I live in the neighborhood?
Sometimes. Many NYC lotteries set aside 50% of units for residents of the surrounding community district. If you currently live in Queens Community District 1 (Astoria) or Community District 2 (Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City), you may have an advantage for lotteries in those districts. Your Housing Connect profile asks for your address so the system handles this automatically.
How long does the whole process take if I win?
From application to lease signing is typically four to nine months. Plan accordingly — you do not need to give notice on your current apartment until the building tells you exactly when your unit will be available.
Sources: Phipps Houses official lottery page for The Barnett; NYC Housing Connect; THE CITY reporting on the affordable housing re-rental waiver extension; rent benchmark data from RentCafe Queens market report.
