Here Are 3 Affordable Housing Lotteries in Upper Manhattan You Can Apply to Right Now
- Apr 2
- 1 min read
With the median asking rent in Manhattan hovering at $4,600, now's a good time to explore the city's affordable housing lottery program—especially if you're hoping to live in the northern half of the borough.
A search through NYC Housing Connect, the city's online portal for finding affordable housing, currently shows three rental lotteries in Harlem and East Harlem, with monthly rent at one property starting at $922.
From south to north, here are the details for those interested in applying:
East Harlem 205 E 110th Street and Third Avenue
Available units: 53
Eligible household income: $41,589-$227,500
Monthly rent: $1,013-$4,449
Lottery ends: April 27, 2026
Central Harlem 2171 Frederick Douglass Boulevard and W 117th Street
Available units: 3
Eligible household income: $124,286-$227,500
Monthly rent: $3,461-$4,176
Lottery ends: April 24, 2026
Central Harlem 74 W 126th Street between Fifth Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard
Available units: 5
Eligible household income: $38,503-$129,600
Monthly rent: $922-$2,572
Lottery ends: April 20, 2026
I understand that this site says affordable housing. But affordable to who? There are a lot of us citizens that make under 25,000 a year. The income you're asking for only 3% of people make that much. So where does that leave us, who are stuck in a shelter, with an income below poverty level? Even the immigrants are getting apartments and assistance faster than us! We were born and raised here! But yet, we're getting treated like we're the immigrants!