All new affordable housing lotteries listed on the city’s Housing Connect website will reserve 10% of units for eligible city employees and veterans starting on Nov. 15.
Until now, only municipal employees received a 5% reference on newly constructed affordable homes financed by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development or the New York City Housing Development Corporation. The allotment expansion recognizes the contributions of New York City’s workforce, which include more than 300,000 employees, and honors veterans with increased access to stable, affordable homes, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday.
“Municipal workers and veterans should be able to live in the city they love," the mayor said in a statement. "With this new policy, we’ll make it easier for city employees and veterans to live, raise a family, and retire in the five boroughs."
Under the new guidelines, applicants must verify their eligibility through Housing Connect. Municipal employees can qualify by confirming city employment and submitting proof such as a pay stub or tax document, while veterans can qualify by providing documentation of service, including a DD214 form or a Statement of Service.
“Service to city and country deserves the dignity of a stable home,” said New York City Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner James Hendon. "By expanding the preference to 10% of new Housing Connect opportunities for municipal workers and military veterans, we’re turning gratitude into access — so the people who keep New York running, and those who wore the uniform, can find an affordable home in the city they serve.”
