Affordable Apartments Now Available At Controversial Crown Heights Homeless Shelter

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — The city is accepting applications for an affordable housing lottery at a new building in Crown Heights that also houses a controversial homeless shelter.

Earlier this year, a group of Crown Heights residents sued the city to try to block the opening of the planned shelter for 132 families on the corner of Rogers Avenue and Crown Street. They said their neighborhood was unfairly overburdened with shelters already compared to the rest of Brooklyn and the city and that the building should be used for more affordable housing.

But a judge eventually allowed it to open and families to move in back in June. Now, the affordable housing part of the building — about 20 percent of the units inside — is up for grabs via the city's online affordable housing lottery.

The application for interested renters touts the building's attended lobby, building supervisor and parking lot. But it doesn't mention that the facility also houses homeless families.

The units are up for rent for households making up to 6o percent of the "area median income," which is anywhere from $31,920 per year for one person to $66,240 per year for a family of six.

Four one-bedroom units are available for $931 per month, while 27 two-bedrooms are listed at $1,123 per month and two three-bedrooms for $1,292 per month. About half of those will go to residents of Community Board 9.

Anyone interested in applying can learn more here.

Image via Marc Torrence, Patch Staff