How You Can Find Housing in NYC

Hearts & Minds^SM - Information for Change^SM

You Can Find Housing in NYC
It is possible :)

On this page:
Introductory Article
Temporary and Long-Term Housing
Low-Income Housing
Housing for the Elderly
Help with Landlord Problems
...and more

See also Housing Search Checklist

So you want to live in New York City...

Just what is it about New York that draws people? The aura? Maybe. You gravitate to the power and mystique of the city, desperate to participate in the flurry of activity that makes up the Big Apple. You and a million other people.

It would be an understatement to say that housing in New York City is a problem. Most of the nice places, and by that I mean affordable and cockroach free, are never advertised in the first place. They are merely passed on by word of mouth. But for those coming from far away, there are many sources to help you find housing.

First, New York has normal leases (rented from the owner of the property) and subleases (rented from the holder of the lease) like everywhere else. There's also an option that I had never heard of, that being the short-term share (where two or more individuals rent space for varying lengths of time). A share can be either long-term or short-term.

For instance, my share lasted for two months. The original occupant was studying abroad for a few months, and did not want to pay $700/month rent without even living in the apartment. Who would? The logical answer: Share the apartment with the remaining roommate for the time she was absent. And Voila! Here I am!

All the info below should help you get started. Just remember: whoever invented the phrase "a New York minute" really knew what he/she was talking about. If a great apartment for a decent rent should become available, lots of people will be after it in "a New York minute".

See also Housing Search Checklist. You might like to search for more resources yourself: How to Use Search Engines More Effectively. If you find good ones, let us know!

Best of Luck!

Here are resources you can use:

Craigslist is a good place to find temporary or permanent housing: http://newyork.craigslist.org/
The Village Voice classified ads - You can find any type of lease you are looking for, whether it be short-term, long-term, or a short-term share. The ads change every week, so you should keep checking until you find what you need. The trick is to start calling as soon as you see the ad. If you sit on it, it is as good as gone.
New York Times classified ads - same story here.
New York Press - www.nypress.com - ditto.
New York Habitat - www.nyhabitat.com My personal favorite. I did not have much luck reaching people with the Village Voice ads, so I went here. For a fee of ½ the month’s rent (of whatever apartment you wind up renting, with a minimum of $300), New York Habitat will hook up people needing to share apartments with people needing apartments. It costs a little extra, but it was so much easier than wading through weeks of classified ads. Plus, they were very nice, which is more than I can say for some people with whom I spoke with through the classifieds.
The Loot. a classified ad bargain newspaper will provide you with a plethora of information: http://property.loot.com/ and http://www.lootusa.com.

SHORT TERM HOUSING FOR STUDENTS AND OTHERS

West Side YMCA
5 West 63rd Street
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 1-212-875-4273
(Guest Room Reservations)
Website: http://www.ymcanyc.org
     By train: Take 1 or 9 train to 66 St. or take A, B, C or D train to 59 St. Columbus Circle.
     By bus: Take M10, M104, M7, M11, or M5 to 63 St and walk east toward Central Park West.
     The West Side YMCA boasts a location only a few blocks from Lincoln Center and Central Park. It has more than 500 air conditioned guest rooms with Cable TV. Guest have access to the recreational facilities, including weight and fitness rooms and a pool. A single room costs $68 per night and a double room costs $80 per night. However, one is only allowed to stay there for a maximum of 25 nights. There is a doorman on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Hotel is open year round and it is open to all. Reservations should be made at least two weeks in advance.

The St. George
100 Henry Street (at Clark)
Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201
Phone: 1-718-797-4259
Fax: 1-718-797-4452
Reservations: 1-212-977-9099
By train: Take 2 or 3 train to Clark St., take 4, 5, N or R to Borough Hall, or take A, C or F train to Jay St. Borough Hall.
The St. George hotel was recently refurbished for student living. Long-term rates range from $540 - $725 per month per person, plus a $100 application fee. Renters choosing the long-term option must stay at least four months. Short term rates are $280 per person per week plus a $25 application fee.*
*If rooms are not available for the dates you request, your application fee will be returned.
Rooms have air conditioning, cable TV and a refrigerator. There is a community kitchen and dining area within the hotel. Generally, more rooms are available in the colder months but reservations can be made for any time. It is advisable to make them as early as possible. The St. George is located in Brooklyn Heights, a neighborhood of friendly cafes, boutiques, bookstores, and cultural activities and also a short subway ride from Manhattan. The hotel is open year-round but houses students only.

De Hirsch Residence
92nd Street YM-YWHA
1395 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10128 USA
Phone: Toll free in USA & Canada: 1-800-858-4692
In New York & Elsewhere: 1-212-415-5650
Fax: (212) 415-5578
Website: www.dehirsch.com
By train: Take 4 or 5 train to 86 Street or take 6 train to 96 Street
By bus: Take M1, M2, M3, M4, M100, M101, M102, M103, M98, or M15 to 92 Street and walk to Lexington Avenue.
Located at the 92nd Street Y within walking distance of Central Park and Museum Mile, the de Hirsch Residence is a dorm-style residence for young adults at least 18 years old who are students, interns or working full time in NYC. Residence is by application only. Monthly rates: single room $1450; double rooms from $1150/per person. There is 24-hour building security, housekeeping and linen service once a week; laundry rooms. Discounted rates for health club and programs and events.

Hostelling International—New York American Youth Hostel
891 Amsterdam Avenue (at 103rd Street)
New York, NY 10025
Phone: 1-212-932-2300
Website: http://www.hinewyork.org/

By train: 1 or 9 to 103rd Street

By bus: M7, M11, M104, M5, M10 to 103rd Street

The American Youth Hostel on Amsterdam Avenue is one of the least expensive youth hostels in Manhattan. The minimum number of people in a room is four, while the maximum is twelve. The cost for 4 - 5 people in a room is $32 per person per night, the cost with 6 - 8 people is $29 per night and the cost with 10 - 12 in a room is $27 per person per night. No special weekly or monthly payment plans are available. The Hostel is only open to students. It is located in an Upper West Side, Manhattan residential neighborhood. Midtown and Downtown Manhattan can be easily reached by the 1 or 9 train. Guests get a bed to sleep in and access to the community cafeteria. Air conditioning and cable TV are not provided.

One of our volunteers stayed very happily in 2009 at one of the NYC Loststels - www.loftstel.com: "Unfortunately the one I lived in closed in 2010. But there is still one at Greene Ave/Brooklyn and since the concept of the loftstels is kind of similar I think its recommendable. Especially if you are new in NYC its very good for getting to know people. But it could be a little far from H&M."

Dozens of hosts in NYC offer free, short-term hospitality (usually only a few days/host) at:http://www.couchsurfing.org/ and http://joomla.servas.org/. Both sites can help you connect with many thousands of hosts all over the world.

HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
NYC Department of the Aging: 1-212-442-1000
Ask for information on housing.

Middle-income housing for elderly
Mitch-Lama Inc.: 1-212-941-9500
Project Find: 1-212-595-3385

Low-income housing for elderly - limit of under $1,600
West Side Federation for Senior Housing: 1-212-663-6000

Independent Living for seniors who require special services
Income limit of $20,700
Yorkville Garden Housing: 1-212-369-5523

OTHER LOW- TO MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING RESOURCES

Jasa Housing Management: 1-212-598-9088

Alliance Lower Eastside Jewish Council: 1-212-233-6037, 6031

Filoma Gardens House: 1-718-617-2800

Hope for Community, Inc.: 1-212-860-8827

Grenadier Realty Corp.: 1-212-865-9690

Jewish Home and Hospital, Senior Residence House:
1-212-870-4832

RMA Associates, Independent House: 1-718-538-5000

James Lenox House
49 E. 73rd Street
New York, NY 10021
Management: 1-212-288-7379

Isabella House
525 Audubon Avenue
New York, NY 10040
1-212-781-9800

Independence House
176 W. 94th Street
New York, NY 10025
Bronx Management: 1-718-538-5000

SHORT-TERM HOUSING, SUBLETS & "BED AND BREAKFASTS"

http://www.bobartlett.com
http://www.lincolnbandb.com
http://www.rent.net
http://www.tempapts.com
http://www.nyhabitat-vacation.com
http://www.nyhabitat-sublet.com

LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING

”The online Affordable Housing Resource Center, which aims to dramatically increase New Yorkers' access to information from more than a dozen City agencies involved in housing matters. The Affordable Housing Resource Center can be found on the web at: www.nyc.gov/housing . The site will provide information and advice on buying and renting in the private market, legal rights and responsibilities, and health tips.”
Phone: HPD Housing hotline: 1-212-863-5610
SHF Marking hotline: 1-212-757-0633
Related Management hotline: 1-212-987-6445

Help with Landlord Problems in NYC
Schedules subject to change, call first:

East Side Tenants Coalition (ESTC)
P.O. Box 20245
New York, NY 10021-0064
Phone: 1-212-249-0582
Website: http://www.tenant.net/Tengroup/ESTC/
Covers the East Side of Manhattan

West Side Tenants Union
200 West 72nd Street, Room 63
New York, N.Y. 10023
Phone: 1-212-595-1274
Website: http://www.tenant.net/Tengroup/WSTU/
Free legal clinic: Tues. & Thurs. 2 - 5 PM, Tues. & Wed. 6 - 7:45 PM
"In existence for over two decades, faithfully counseling people on tenant rights. Volunteer counselors and lawyers help tenants with everything from filing the proper forms to the intricacies of navigating housing court. Services are free of charge, but we do ask that those who come to the clinic and join WSTU, if possible, [pay dues] as we are solely supported by membership dues."
Annual Membership is $15, and $7 annually for senior citizens, students and SSI recipients.

Metropolitan Council on Housing
339 Lafayette Street, #301
New York, NY 10012
Phone: 1-212-979-0611
Website: http://www.metcouncil.net/
The Metropolitan Council on Housing ("Met Council") is a city-wide membership tenant organization that has been active for more than thirty years. Met Council's monthly newspaper Tenant/Inquilino, edited by Steven Wishnia, covers a broad array of topics of interest to tenants. Listen to Housing Notebook, Mondays at 8 p.m., on WBAI, 99.5 FM.

Urban Justice Center
Phone: 1-646-602-5600
Website: http://www.urbanjustice.org/
Legal clinics, Mondays - Thursdays, various locations in Manhattan.

More websites for legal help:

http://www.tenant.net/nyc.html
http://www.tenant.net/Tengroup/

For more, search for: tenants rights organizations NYC