Is there a housing lottery in Albany, NY?

Not a city one. Buildings financed by New York State run a lottery for their first apartments on NYS Housing Search, then keep a waitlist. Mosaic South in the South End drew its lottery on July 20, 2026 and opened its waitlist on August 6, 2026.

How do I apply for affordable housing in Albany?

It depends on the building. State-financed buildings take applications through NYS Housing Search or their manager, Albany Housing Authority sites through one online pre-application, and other buildings through their own leasing office. Each article names the route for its building.

Can I use Section 8 in a new affordable building in Albany?

Federal law bars a tax-credit building from refusing a renter for holding a voucher. State listings add that the minimum income "may not apply" with Section 8. The rent still has to fit your voucher, so each article compares rents with the range a payment standard must fall in.

What are the income limits for affordable housing in Albany in 2026?

HUD's 2026 limits for the Albany area are $43,100 for one person and $61,550 for four at 50% of area median income, and $68,950 and $98,500 at 80%. The area median family income is $123,100.

Is the Albany Housing Authority Section 8 waiting list open?

On October 5, 2026 the Authority's site said it was not accepting Housing Choice Voucher applications. It had been taking public housing applications for one- to five-bedroom apartments since August 31, 2026.

New developments

New Affordable Housing Developments in Albany

Each article here reports one new or rebuilt building with income-restricted apartments in the City of Albany. It gives the rents and income limits where they are published, how to apply, and how the rents compare with voucher limits and HUD's rent figures. The facts come from the State's housing search listings, City planning and permit records, the Albany Housing Authority and each building's own site.

Updated October 14, 2026 · By the VoucherMatch Editorial Team · How these guides are reported

Buildings: 3
Income-restricted apartments: 414
Lowest published rent: $733

Every building guide in Albany

3 buildings

Rents by apartment size in Albany

The lowest monthly rent each building's official listing gives for each apartment size, and the yearly household income the listing accepts. “Based on income” means the rent is set from the household's income, and a dash means the listing has no apartment of that size.

Building	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3 bedrooms	4 bedrooms	Yearly income accepted
Colvin Avenue CommonsWestland Hills, Albany	$829	$733	–	–	–
Mosaic SouthSouth End, Albany	$1,013	$1,224	$1,408	$1,920	$30,390 to $114,300

Source: each building's official listing, on the date its guide gives. What it means: the income limit also depends on household size, so read the building's guide before you apply.

How people apply for income-restricted apartments in Albany

There is no city lottery. Buildings financed by New York State list on NYS Housing Search, where the first apartments are filled by a lottery and later ones from a waitlist. The State says the building owner, not the State, takes the applications.
Albany Housing Authority buildings use one online pre-application. The Authority gives preference to working families, or people unable to work due to age or disability, who live or work in the City of Albany.
Other buildings take applications through their own leasing office or website. Income-restricted apartments inside market-rate buildings are marketed by the owner, and the City keeps no waiting list for them.

Sources: NYS Housing Search, About, checked October 5, 2026; Albany Housing Authority, Apply for Housing, checked October 5, 2026; Albany Common Council minutes, April 20, 2026 (Ordinance 5.31.26), checked October 6, 2026.

Using a Section 8 voucher in an Albany tax-credit building

Federal tax-credit law requires these buildings to agree not to refuse "a holder of a voucher or certificate of eligibility under section 8" for holding one.
State listings carry this line: "Minimum income listed may not apply to applicants with Section 8 or other qualifying rental subsidies."
The Albany Housing Authority does not post its payment standards. Its plan commits to keeping them "between 90 and 110 percent of the published FMR for each unit size", so each article shows that range and labels it as HUD's figure.

Sources: 26 U.S.C. 42(h)(6)(B)(iv), checked October 5, 2026; NYS Housing Search listing HCR000272, checked October 6, 2026; Albany Housing Authority, Section 8 Administrative Plan, checked October 5, 2026.

More housing help in Albany

Vouchers and income-based housing in Albany

Questions about new affordable housing in Albany

Is there a housing lottery in Albany, NY?: Not a city one. Buildings financed by New York State run a lottery for their first apartments on NYS Housing Search, then keep a waitlist. Mosaic South in the South End drew its lottery on July 20, 2026 and opened its waitlist on August 6, 2026.
How do I apply for affordable housing in Albany?: It depends on the building. State-financed buildings take applications through NYS Housing Search or their manager, Albany Housing Authority sites through one online pre-application, and other buildings through their own leasing office. Each article names the route for its building.
Can I use Section 8 in a new affordable building in Albany?: Federal law bars a tax-credit building from refusing a renter for holding a voucher. State listings add that the minimum income "may not apply" with Section 8. The rent still has to fit your voucher, so each article compares rents with the range a payment standard must fall in.
What are the income limits for affordable housing in Albany in 2026?: HUD's 2026 limits for the Albany area are $43,100 for one person and $61,550 for four at 50% of area median income, and $68,950 and $98,500 at 80%. The area median family income is $123,100.
Is the Albany Housing Authority Section 8 waiting list open?: On October 5, 2026 the Authority's site said it was not accepting Housing Choice Voucher applications. It had been taking public housing applications for one- to five-bedroom apartments since August 31, 2026.

New affordable buildings elsewhere

Figures come from each building's official listing and public records, dated in its guide. VoucherMatch is not a housing agency and does not take applications for these buildings. How these guides are reported.