In a borough where “under $800” usually means a storage unit, East Harlem renters just got a rare break: a new city housing lottery tied to the Las Raíces project is offering studio apartments starting at $788 a month. The apartments are part of a four-building development that will add dozens of permanently affordable homes along the Park Avenue corridor, plus a neighborhood community space. One-bedroom and two-bedroom units at other subsidized rent levels are also on the table, making this one of the deeper-discount Manhattan lotteries to surface lately. Winners will be selected through a lottery system and must meet household-size and income requirements before any lease is offered.
As reported by PIX11, the listing features three studios at $788 a month, six more studios at $1,031, eight one-bedroom units at $996 and four two-bedroom apartments. The official posting on NYC Housing Connect lays out the income bands that determine who qualifies. For example, the $788 studios are linked to annual household incomes of about $30,823 to $51,840, with higher minimums and maximums for the two-bedrooms. The Housing Connect listing also notes that rent includes heat and hot water, tenants cover electricity, and the building will offer shared laundry and modern kitchen appliances.
Where the apartments will sit
The new homes are part of Las Raíces, a multi-site, 78-unit affordable housing effort rising on several small city-owned lots in East Harlem, in partnership with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Construction partners and developer materials show buildings going up at multiple points along the Park Avenue corridor, along with plans for a new community facility. Lettire Construction's project page, along with coverage in New York YIMBY, describes similar site and unit details for the broader development.
How to apply
Applications are being handled through the city's Housing Connect portal, and renters must apply directly through the official listing while carefully matching their household size to the posted income bands. The portal explains that applicants are selected at random in a lottery, then screened for eligibility afterward, so having documents like pay stubs and tax returns ready can help keep the process moving. For full rules and to submit an application, head to the NYC Housing Connect listing.
Why this matters
Units at these prices are nearly unicorns in Manhattan, which makes city lotteries one of the few realistic ways many residents can land deeply affordable rents. Recent reporting on New York's affordable housing system has flagged shifting re-rental rules and intense competition for low-cost apartments, so this lottery is likely to draw heavy interest. Developers and community groups tied to Las Raíces say that combining permanent affordability with community space is one way long-time residents can stay rooted in the neighborhood even as new development moves in. Additional background on the project appears on developer pages and in local coverage.
