Here Are 2 Affordable Housing Lotteries in Upper Manhattan You Can Apply to Right Now
- The Curious Uptowner
- Jan 12
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 13
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 two rental lotteries—one in Central Harlem and the other in Inwood—with rent for one-bedrooms starting at $1,040 and amenities like in-unit dishwashers and washers and dryers.
Here are the details for those interested in applying, from south to north:
Central Harlem 280 W 132nd St and Frederick Douglass Blvd
Available units: 16
Eligible household income: $114,652-$227,500
Monthly rent: $3,180-$3,330
Lottery ends: January 22, 2026
Inwood 5055 Broadway between W 215th and W 216th Sts
Available units: 13
Eligible household income: $41,280-$189,540
Monthly rent: $1,040-$3,078
Lottery ends: January 27, 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!