NYC Affordable Housing Waitlists Open Now
Updated October 2026. This page is refreshed monthly. Openings change without much warning, so always confirm on the official source before applying.
Lotteries get the headlines, but waitlists are where most below-market apartments actually live. A lottery is a one-time drawing with a deadline. A waitlist is a queue you can join right now, no deadline, and stay in until an apartment comes free. Here is what is open this month.
Mitchell-Lama waitlists currently open
Co-op City, Bronx. The largest Mitchell-Lama co-op in the country opened waitlist applications for its limited-equity co-op lottery (reported by Secret NYC, October 19, 2026). Share prices start around $22,000, which is homeownership at a price that rarely exists in New York City. Expect heavy demand and a short window: confirm the deadline on the Riverbay/Co-op City site before planning around it.
Brooklyn Mitchell-Lama co-ops. As of late September 2026, at least four Mitchell-Lama co-ops in Brownsville and East Flatbush were accepting waitlist applications: Gorman Apartments, Harry Silver Apartments, Jimerson Apartments, and Mutual Apartments (reported by Brooklyn Bridge Parents, September 2026). These are co-ops, so budget the share purchase price ($7,500 to $47,000 depending on building and unit) plus monthly maintenance, not a deposit.
A note on co-ops vs rentals: Mitchell-Lama co-ops require buying a share. Mitchell-Lama rentals do not. Both appear under the same program name, so read each building's listing carefully.
How to find waitlists the moment they open
- Mitchell-Lama Connect (NYC HPD). Create an account and sign up for email notifications when waiting-list lotteries open. This is the closest thing to a real-time alert for city-supervised buildings.
- HPD's "last number approved" spreadsheet. Updated weekly, this shows the waiting-list number each Mitchell-Lama development most recently approved. If the last approved number is close to your number, a unit may be near. If you are not on any list yet, it tells you which buildings are actually moving.
- NYS Homes and Community Renewal. State-supervised buildings publish their own lists; check HCR's Mitchell-Lama page for developments outside HPD's supervision.
- This page. We refresh this roundup monthly as buildings open and close lists.
The $75 rule
Almost every Mitchell-Lama waitlist charges a non-refundable $75 application fee per development. Applying to five buildings costs $375, non-refundable. Budget accordingly and only apply where you actually qualify.
Waitlists vs re-rentals
A waitlist can take years. If you need a below-market apartment this year, re-rentals are the faster lane: affordable units that open up when a previous tenant moves out, available first come, first served. Read How re-rentals work, then set up an alert with your bedrooms, boroughs, household size, and income so you apply the day a match posts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a housing lottery and a waitlist?
A lottery has an application window and a deadline; winners are drawn at random. A waitlist is a standing queue: you apply any time, get a number or position, and wait your turn as units free up.
Is the NYCHA Section 8 waitlist open?
No. NYCHA's Section 8 waitlist has been closed since December 2009, with a brief reopening in June 2024. Check HPD and HCR for other programs while you wait.
How long do Mitchell-Lama waitlists take?
Often several years. Co-ops with higher share prices can move faster because fewer applicants qualify. Use HPD's weekly "last number approved" spreadsheet to see which lists are actually moving.
Can I be on a waitlist and apply to lotteries at the same time?
Yes. They are separate systems. Being on a Mitchell-Lama waitlist does not affect your housing lottery applications.
Do waitlists cost money to join?
Mitchell-Lama waitlists charge a non-refundable $75 per development. Housing Connect lotteries are free to enter.