If you have been putting off applying to an NYC affordable housing lottery, June 2026 is a rare moment of opportunity. Three lotteries are actively accepting applications right now — in Fort Greene Brooklyn, Midtown East Manhattan, and East Flatbush Brooklyn — with deadlines ranging from this week through the end of the month. Here is everything you need to know to apply before time runs out.
Why June Matters for Housing Lottery Applicants
Most New Yorkers know that the affordable housing lottery exists, but fewer realize how sharply application windows close. Miss a deadline by a day and you wait months for another opportunity at a comparable unit. Right now, multiple lotteries across different income bands are simultaneously open, meaning renters at a wide range of incomes — from very low income to moderate middle-income — have a shot at below-market housing.
All applications are free and submitted through NYC Housing Connect, the city’s official portal. You create one profile and use it to apply to as many lotteries as you qualify for. There is no limit on simultaneous applications.
The Three Lotteries Open Right Now
1. 165 Willoughby Street — Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Deadline: June 29, 2026
This is the standout lottery of the moment. Located at 165 Willoughby Street in Fort Greene — one block from Metrotech, walkable to the BDFNQR trains at DeKalb Avenue — this development is offering 20 rent-stabilized units at 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Units range from studios to two-bedrooms, each with washer/dryer, dishwasher, high-end kitchen appliances, air conditioning, and smart heating and cooling controls.
Income eligibility runs from $75,669 to $140,000 depending on household size. Rents start at approximately $2,063 for a studio. The building features an indoor rock-climbing wall, lounge, media and VR room, game room, business center, rooftop terrace, spa, and pool (some amenity fees apply).
This lottery was confirmed directly via the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s official housing lotteries page and NYC Housing Connect listing #7519. Apply at: housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/details/7519
2. Midtown East Supportive Housing — Manhattan
Deadline: July 3, 2026
A lottery for 51 low-income units at a new supportive housing project in Midtown East is open through July 3, 2026. Units start at $1,122/month. Supportive housing developments often include on-site social services and are open to a broader range of applicants including those with prior housing instability. Search NYC Housing Connect for this listing or browse Manhattan open lotteries at NYC Housing Connect.
3. 3216 Glenwood Road — East Flatbush, Brooklyn
Deadline: June 2, 2026 — Apply Today
This smaller lottery for 4 units at 80% AMI in East Flatbush closes June 2, 2026. Income range is $81,223 to $160,720 depending on household size. East Flatbush offers direct 2/5 train access and remains one of Brooklyn’s more transit-accessible, affordable neighborhoods. Apply immediately through NYC Housing Connect.
What Is AMI and Do You Qualify?
AMI stands for Area Median Income — a figure HUD calculates annually for the New York metro area. For 2026, 80% AMI thresholds are published annually by HUD and posted on each lottery listing. Each lottery specifies both a minimum and maximum income for every household size. You must fall within those bands — not just below the ceiling. A household earning too little for an 80% AMI unit may qualify for a 50% or 60% AMI lottery instead.
The free calculator at nychousinglottery.com/ami-calculator lets you check eligibility quickly.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Create a profile on NYC Housing Connect at housingconnect.nyc.gov. Enter household size, income, and basic information. This profile is reused for every application.
- Find lotteries you qualify for. Use the search and filter tools on Housing Connect, or browse nychousinglottery.com for real-time listings.
- Submit before the deadline. Applications submitted one day late are disqualified. There is no fee and no disadvantage to applying early.
- Wait for your log number. After the deadline, applicants are assigned a random number. Selected applicants are contacted for an interview and document review, a process that can take months.
- Respond promptly if selected. You typically have 10 business days to respond and provide documentation. Missing this window means losing your spot.
What to Bring to Your Interview
The most common reason eligible applicants get disqualified is documentation mismatch. If selected, bring the last two years of tax returns, recent pay stubs (last 4 weeks), bank statements, and a government-issued ID for every adult in the household. All income sources must be declared — including freelance, alimony, Social Security, and rental income. Discrepancies between what you reported on the application and what documents show can end your candidacy.
Note that local community board residents and NYC municipal employees often receive a preference pool — make sure to indicate these preferences when applying.
Keep Watching: More Are Coming
The Queens lotteries we covered in May 2026 — including Astoria Cove — are still accepting applications through early June. For broader context on NYC rent trends driving demand for affordable units, see our analysis of where renters have leverage in 2026.
Action Steps
- Apply today for 3216 Glenwood Road (East Flatbush, deadline June 2): housingconnect.nyc.gov
- Apply by June 29 for 165 Willoughby Street (Fort Greene): Housing Connect listing #7519
- Apply by July 3 for Midtown East supportive housing: search Manhattan open lotteries on NYC Housing Connect
- Create your free profile at housingconnect.nyc.gov if you have not already
- Check your AMI eligibility: nychousinglottery.com/ami-calculator
Primary sources: Downtown Brooklyn Partnership Housing Lotteries page; NYC Housing Connect; NYC HPD.
