New Yorkers could have a shot at housing with rents starting at just $513 per month.
The opportunity comes via the NYC Housing Development Lottery, which has reopened its waiting list for mobility-adapted apartments at Spring Creek in Brooklyn.
With a ‘bomb cyclone’ winter storm hitting the city, the timing could be welcome for residents looking for shelter at a price far below typical market rates.
The homes are in buildings at 516 and 524 Vandalia Avenue, as well as 526 Schroeders Avenue. The area is connected by two trains, three subway lines, and seven bus routes.
On-site perks include parking, a fitness center, card-operated laundry facilities, and a resident superintendent.
The lottery’s rent-restricted units are allocated based on household income compared with the city’s Area Median Income (AMI), which is set using a standard determined by the US Department of Housing and
Urban Development—criteria the NYC government says is used to help determine eligibility for affordable housing programs across the city.
Studio apartments are listed from $513 to $1,023 per month, for up to two residents with household incomes between $20,880 and $51,840.
One-bedroom options range from $558 to $1,089 per month, intended for up to three people earning $22,835 to $58,320.
Two-bedroom units run from $749 to $1,291 per month, for households of two to five people with incomes from $30,549 up to $70,000.
Three-bedroom apartments are priced between $838 and $1,476 per month, aimed at households of three to seven people earning $34,766 to $80,360.
Applicants won’t be charged an application fee or broker’s fee, although the buildings do not allow pets.
NYCHDC also notes that heat and hot water are included in the rent, while electricity is paid separately by tenants.
For comparison, in September 2025 Nicki in NYC estimated the monthly cost of owning a studio in Brooklyn at $2,839 all-in.
That estimate was based on a $393,000 median studio price, average monthlies of $747, and a mortgage payment of $2,092 with 20 percent down at a seven percent interest rate.
The reopening arrives as affordability continues to be one of the city’s toughest issues.
New mayor Zohran Mamdani has placed housing policy at the center of his agenda, running on plans to expand tenant protections, reinforce rent control, and accelerate construction of hundreds of thousands of affordable homes.
In his opening days, Mamdani signed executive actions focused on renter protections and restarting the city’s Office to Protect Tenants.
To apply for the NYC housing lottery, e-mail [email protected] or call 718-576-6940.
Find out more information here.