Nkenge, a native New Yorker, was born in the Bronx and raised in Harlem. Living in a neighborhood like Manhattan’s Flatiron, with a median rent of $5,394, seemed out of reach for her. However, in 2023, her dream became a reality when she was selected for a one-bedroom apartment through the city’s housing lottery after submitting over 120 applications in the previous three years. The NYC housing lottery program helps residents find affordable housing, including rent-stabilized apartments, defined as housing costs no greater than 30 percent of income.
Nkenge had been paying around $1,900 for a small one-bedroom apartment in Harlem and wanted to reduce her rent costs to around $1,000 a month to save for a place of her own. She applied to the lottery in 2020 and qualified with an income between $36,798 and $59,340. After submitting proof of income, she was shown three apartments and chose a one-bedroom unit in Manhattan with amenities like a washer and dryer, gym, game room, and rooftop. She spent about $7,000 on furniture for her new apartment and her upfront costs included the first month’s rent and a security deposit totaling $1,994.
With a two-year lease, Nkenge pays $997 a month in rent, which includes a utility allowance of $85, a $54 building amenity fee, and $195 in utilities, for a total of $1,246. If she renews her lease in 2025, her rent will increase by 5%, as allowed for rent-stabilized units in New York City. Nkenge’s new living situation has allowed her to save for owning a home, retirement, and life insurance, which were not previously feasible for her due to high housing costs. She believes more people, especially those who look like her, should have access to affordable housing programs like the NYC housing lottery.
Between January 2014 and June 2020, over 27 million NYC residents applied for the housing lottery, demonstrating the high demand for affordable housing in the city. Nkenge emphasizes the importance of having access to affordable housing, as it has improved her quality of life and allowed her to save for future goals. She has been living in her apartment for a year now and is focused on saving to buy a home within the next five years. By participating in programs like the NYC housing lottery, Nkenge has found stability and financial freedom that were previously out of reach, showing the positive impact that affordable housing can have on individuals’ lives.
