Who Gets In?

BRONX — When the city announced construction of The Peninsula in 2019, a new subsidized housing complex in Hunts Point, Annie Gomez was optimistic.

The social worker, who shares a cramped one-bedroom apartment with her teenage son, plans to apply for next month’s housing lottery via the city’s Housing Connect site. But she was discouraged to hear that many of The Peninsula’s units will be set aside for higher-income families.

“People that are applying for this are people who would need affordable housing, not somebody who makes $63,000,” Gomez said. “So I’m happy, but what does it do for me if I can’t get into the building?”

Half of the building’s 740 residential units are reserved for residents of Bronx Community District 2, but it is not yet clear how many will be designated for each income group. That decision will have a big impact in a neighborhood where 40%  of  residents have incomes below the federal poverty line.