NYC Housing Connect is the city's portal for affordable housing lotteries. If you are looking for NYC Housing Connect account recovery, start by trying to reset your password rather than creating a second account. A second account can lead to duplicate applications and make your existing ones harder to manage.
Here is how to get back in, and who to contact if you cannot.
Step 1: Use the official site only
Housing Connect is at housingconnect.nyc.gov. Applying is free. Do not give your login to anyone who offers to apply for you for a fee, and do not pay anyone for "priority" or a better log number.
Step 2: Reset your password
On the Housing Connect sign-in page, use the "forgot password" link. A reset message is sent to the email address on your account. The portal's FAQ covers common account questions.
If the reset message does not arrive:
- check your spam and promotions folders;
- make sure you are checking the email address you used to create the account;
- wait a reasonable time, then request the reset again.
Step 3: If you no longer have access to that email
This is the most common hard case: the account was created with an old email you can no longer open. Contact HPD before creating another account (see contacts below). Explain that you lost access to the email on your account and ask how to recover the account.
Why creating a second account can be risky
Some Housing Connect lottery advertisements state: "ONE REQUEST ONLY PER APPLICANT. Any applicant placing a duplicate request will not be entered into the lottery." They also note that an applicant can submit either a paper entry or an online entry (example: HPD lottery advertisement, 2026). A second account may lead to duplicate applications for the same lottery or make it harder to keep track of the ones you already submitted.
Step 4: Keep your profile current
Your Housing Connect profile is used to assess eligibility. ACCESS NYC advises keeping it updated with any changes to your income or household while you wait. A profile that no longer matches your situation can complicate the eligibility review and lead to requests for more documents. Common reasons applications run into trouble are covered in Why Housing Connect Applications Get Rejected, and income and savings rules in NYC Housing Connect Asset Limits, Explained.
Who to contact
- Housing Connect helpline: 212-863-7990. Calls may not be answered in real time; leave a voicemail (ACCESS NYC).
- Email: [email protected] (NYC HPD contacts)
- Accessibility requests: 212-863-6486 or [email protected]
- 311: ask for the Affordable Housing Hotline.
- Free in-person help: the city's Housing Ambassadors program connects applicants with community organizations that help with Housing Connect (ACCESS NYC).
When you contact them, have ready your full name as it appears on the account and the email address you think you used. Never share your password.
Already applied?
Losing access to your account does not necessarily mean that your submitted applications have been canceled. Once you regain access, review their status. If you cannot get in, contact HPD and ask how to confirm your applications. To understand what your position in a lottery means, see What Your Housing Connect Log Number Means.
Found an affordable apartment opportunity? Before making a decision, review the property's public records with Weverit and learn what they can — and cannot — tell you about the building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just make a new account with a different email? It is risky. Some lottery advertisements say duplicate requests are not entered, and a second account can make your applications harder to manage. Contact HPD first and ask how to recover your original account.
I forgot which email I used. What now? Try the password reset with each email you might have used. If none work, contact the Housing Connect helpline or email.
Does it cost anything to apply or get help? No. Applying through Housing Connect is free, and Housing Ambassadors organizations help applicants. Be wary of anyone charging to apply or to improve your odds.
Can someone apply for me? A Housing Ambassadors organization can help you with your application. Do not give your password to strangers or paid "services."
Sources
- NYC HPD lottery advertisement (High Lawn Terrace, 2026), duplicate-request rule — nyc.gov/hpd
- ACCESS NYC, "NYC Housing Connect" — access.nyc.gov
- NYC HPD, Contact — nyc.gov/hpd
- NYC Housing Connect — housingconnect.nyc.gov
