Overview

Finding Affordable Housing

Who Qualifies
Application Procedure
Selection Process
Credit Counseling and Financial Literacy
Questions and Answers

What is Affordable Housing?

What is Median Family Income (MFI)?

What is New York Citys MFI/AMI?

2013

$ 85,900 !

TOTAL NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE

HOUSING UNITS AVAILABLE*

1,073

In Community Board 2 in next few years

HOW DO YOU FIND AND SIGN UP

FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Online
WWW.NYC.GOV/HOUSINGCONNECT FOR
CURRENT LISTINGS

Call 311 And Ask For Affordable Housing

Look For Advertisements In Newspapers
Contact Non-profit Community Based
Organizations

Housing opportunities Websites:

NYC Housing Connect:
www.nyc.gov/housingconnect
HPD http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/apartme
nt/apartment.shtml
HDC - http://www.nychdc.com/
HCR - http://www.nyshcr.org/ You should
always call to check if bldg. is rent stabilized.

UNDERSTAND ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

Every Project Has Different Income
Requirements based on Household Size (HHS)
Many projects have apartments at various
income ranges

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE

ELIGIBLE
Income Requirements
Minimum Maximum income requirement and
each range depends on the percentage of AMI and
household size (HHS)

List all members of your household (list all the

people that will be living in your new apt)

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE

ELIGIBLE CONTINUED
Your Credit History Meets The Developers
Standards (credit score)
Background checks for housing rent payments
and criminal history will be done on all
applicants

APPLYING ON HOUSING CONNECT

TO APPLY ONLINE FOR NYC HOUSING CONNECT
YOU NEED:
Access to Internet
A Valid Email Address
Only One Account Should Be Created Per
Household

TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR AFFORDABLE

HOUSING
Make Sure That All Sections On Your Application
Are Completed To The Best Of Your Knowledge.
Incomplete And Unsigned Applications Will Be
Disqualified

Fill out information on Housing Connect

Keep information updated. When you apply from
Housing Connect they use the information from when
you first registered
Once registered on Housing Connect, you upload that
information and press Apply for any new projects
that you may be eligible

TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR AFFORDABLE

HOUSING CONTINUED
Look For Projects In Your Community Boards
As Community Board Residents Normally Get
50% Preference
Look at advertisement (available from link in
Housing Connect) for any project you are
applying for to see their Income requirements
and rent levels

TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR AFFORDABLE

HOUSING CONTINUED
If Currently Receiving a Housing Subsidy Note On Your
Application - This Makes You Eligible if You Do Not Meet
Minimum Income Requirements
If using mail, Mail Your Application Before The Deadline
Date
Do Not Use: Priority, Certified, Expressed, Registered,
Overnight Or Oversized Envelopes
Do Not Submit Duplicate Applications.
If You Apply Online then You Cannot Apply Via Mail
For The Same Project

TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR AFFORDABLE

HOUSING CONTINUED
Do Not Duplicate Your Household Members
You cannot list the same household members on
separate applications

HOW ARE APPLICATIONS PROCESSED

All Applications Are Randomly Ordered And Assigned A
Log Number. The City of NY oversees the lottery for the
developments highlighted in this presentation.
Applicants That Meet One Or More Preferences Will Be
Contacted First
Preferences Include Persons With Disabilities,
Community Board Residents and City Employees
NYC Residents Receive General Preference Over Non-city
Residents

HOW ARE APPLICATIONS PROCESSED

CONTINUED
There are no application fees for any projects. Fees may be
charged for credit checks however.
Response Time Can Take 2-10 Months Depending on Number of
Applicants
Ineligible Applicants Will Not Be Contacted
Greatest Chance of Being Contacted
If You Are Randomly Assigned A Low Log Number
You Meet One Or More Of The Preference Categories

INTERVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

Be Prepared to Bring:

Tax Returns
Paystubs
Job Letters
Bank Statements (checking/savings)
Asset Statements (401K,TDA, NYCERS etc)
CPA Letters (where relevant)
Proof Of Address And Ids
Copy Lease
Copy Birth & Marriage Certificates

Confirm Your Appointment Immediately And Make

Sure You Show Up For Your Interview
If You Are Unable To Submit Documents In Person, You
Can Email Or Fax Documents To Meet Deadline

INTERVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

CONTINUED
The Developer Reviews Your Documentation And Verifies Your
Eligibility
After Developer, A City Employee Will Review the File for Accuracy
If Your File meets all the requirements for the project i.e., income,
credit and household size, then you will be approved and offered a
lease
Appeals:
If You Wish To Appeal A Decision, Make Sure You Follow The
Instructions On How To Appeal
You Will Have Only 10 Days To Submit Written Appeal Along
With Documentation To Substantiate Your Appeal

FINANCIAL LITERACY
FAC Community Services:
FREE financial coaching and benefits screening
Budgeting:
Track your spending and monitor all expenses
Increase your income with benefits and free services
Saving:
Clarify your personal goals
Take advantage of pre-tax savings plans and money saving FREE
services

Call 347-844-0220 for a free financial coaching or

benefits screening appointment today!

WHAT IS CREDIT?
Credit is a loan to buy something and the promise to repay
the loan. You must have borrowed money in order for
something to be considered credit.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
Housing
ID Theft
Employment
HOW CAN AI CHECK MY CREDIT?
FREE Report: www.AnnualCreditReport.com
FREE Transunion score: www.CreditKarma.com
Scores run from 350-850. You need a minimum score of
600 to qualify for the housing described tonight.

HOW CAN I CHECK MY CREDIT?

FREE Report: www.AnnualCreditReport.com
FREE Transunion score: www.CreditKarma.com
Scores run from 350-850. You need a minimum
score of 600 to qualify for the housing described
tonight

WHAT MAKES UP MY CREDIT SCORE?

- Payment history (high impact on score)
- Amounts owed (high impact)
- Derogatory Marks (high impact)
- Age of credit history (medium impact)
- Types of credit used (low impact)
- New credit (low impact)
Call 347-844-0220 for a free financial coaching or
benefits screening appointment today

Questions & Answers

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS

WORKSHOP
TO GET A COPY OF THIS
PRESENTATION YOU CAN VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT
www.fifthave.org