Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority Opens Affordable Housing Waiting List

YONKERS—For the first time in more than 10 years, The Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers will be opening its waiting list for Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for affordable housing.

MHACY reported on June 27 that it is seeking to add 3,000 people to its waiting list for affordable housing vouchers. The vouchers are provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and subsidize rental units in market rate buildings for income-qualifying tenants.

The deadline for residents to apply for the list is July 13. A public lottery will be held on August 2 and 3 to draw the names of those who will be eligible to receive vouchers as they become available.

“Housing is key to the vitality of any city. In addition to the thousands of units of new market rate housing that are going up, we have renovated MHACY housing and are now making more affordable housing available through the use of these vouchers in partnership with building owners,’’ said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “This three-prong approach ensures that we provide a full-spectrum of housing, and renew our commitment to provide safe, affordable housing for working families.’’

Wilson Kimball, MHACY’s President and CEO, said that because the list had been closed for so long, it took years of preparation to update it to make sure that it was current and accurate.

“Opening the MHACY waiting list has been 10 years in the making. Two years ago, MHACY’s waiting list had an overwhelming number of names. MHACY has spent the last two years updating the list to remove those no longer interested and working with families to find housing. Our partnership with Mayor Spano and the City of Yonkers on several affordable housing issues helped us reach this day. And nothing would have been possible without the support of the Board of Commissioners of MHACY,’’ Kimball said.

Chairman of the MHACY Board of Commissioners James Landy added, “Opening our waiting list is momentous as it allows people needing rental assistance the chance to find affordable decent housing that has become out of reach for so many. We are very proud to afford Yonkers residents this opportunity.”

Pre-applications for vouchers are being accepted through July 13 at MHACY’s Central Office at 1511 Central Park Ave. and can be mailed there but must be postmarked by July 13th at 11:59 p.m. The pre-applications can be found on the MHACY website at mhacy.org. They can also be picked up at the following locations during office hours:

MHACY’s Central Office at 1511 Central Park Ave.
Yonkers Riverfront Library – 1 Larkin Center
Yonkers Grinton Will Library – 1500 Central Park Ave.
Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc. – 984 North Broadway, Suite 400
Family Service Society of Yonkers – 30 South Broadway
City of Yonkers Department of Veteran Services – 120 New Main St.
The Office for the Aging – Peter Chema Center, 435 Riverdale Ave.

Pre applicants must be income eligible. To meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements families’ incomes must not exceed the following:

Family size:

1 person – $48,550
2 people – $55,450
3 people – $62,400
4 people – $69,300
5 people – $74,850
6 people – $80,400
7 people – $85,950
8 people – $91,500

If the applicant has a disability and requires a reasonable accommodation to submit a pre-application, they can call MHACY at 914-517-1184.