October 9, 2025
New York State Homes and Community Renewal today announced the New York Housing Search website has been improved and modernized to make it easier and more convenient for New Yorkers to search for available affordable housing. The new website provides more robust functionality, including the capability to apply to open affordable housing lotteries online.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "HCR’s new website is emblematic of the Governor’s commitment to making the affordable housing search easier and more accessible. New York Housing Search is our latest tool to improve access to State-financed housing in communities across the state."
New York Housing Search consolidates listings for housing lotteries and waitlists for all HCR-financed projects into one website. By giving New Yorkers the opportunity to apply for affordable housing online, HCR is making the home finding process easier, increasing access, and removing barriers for those who may not be able to submit paper applications.
The website features lotteries and waitlists that are open throughout the state. The listings are available to various communities including families, households in need of support services, seniors, individuals experiencing homelessness, and veterans. New Yorkers will be able to search for apartments that are accessible and equipped for people with mobility impairments, as well as hearing and visual impairments. There is also a “translate” button for New Yorkers who may need to translate the listings or applications into the top twelve most spoken languages in the state. Owners of HCR-financed properties can create listings, accept electronic applications, run lotteries, and use their project’s waitlist to fill vacancies.
Each affordable housing lottery listing has information about eligibility including income, household size, ability, and age. Some affordable developments may have additional eligibility requirements such as veteran or workforce status.
Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
Governor Hochul is dedicated to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives, capital funding, and new protections for renters and homeowners. Building on this commitment, the FY26 Enacted Budget includes more than $1.5 billion in new State funding for housing, a Housing Access Voucher pilot program, and new policies to improve affordability for tenants and homebuyers. These measures complement the Governor’s five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, included in the FY23 Enacted Budget, to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. More than 65,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.
The FY25 and FY26 Enacted Budgets also strengthened the Governor’s Pro-Housing Community Program — which allows certified localities exclusive access to up to $750 million in discretionary State funding. Currently, more than 350 communities have received Pro-Housing certification.