Nearly 20% of NYC affordable housing is for households making over $80K

NEW YORK (PIX11) – There are thousands of affordable housing units available in 35 buildings, according to the current inventory on NYC Housing Connect.

Of the 2,227 units up for grabs, 443 units in 15 buildings are designated for New Yorkers earning more than New York City’s median salary , $63,548, with income requirements beginning at $80,000 and higher.

So, why are nearly 20%, or one in five, affordable housing opportunities available for earners who make $80,000?

We first have to look at what New York City defines as affordable housing.

“Housing is considered ‘affordable’ when a household spends no more than one-third of its income on rent and utilities,” according to the Department of Housing Preservation & Development . “Affordable housing is based on a household’s percentage of Area Median Income (AMI), which the federal government sets on a yearly basis.”

When applying to one of the many opportunities listed below, NYC Housing Preservation and Development considers family size to determine the percentage of the Area Median Income. A full chart can be found here .

For example, a household of one person who makes $80,606 and applies to The Arabella , a current affordable housing opportunity, should pay at most $2,206 monthly rent.

New York City’s affordable housing lotteries have various income limits. For the complete list of opportunities, including New Yorkers whose household incomes are less than $80,000, click here .

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here .

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