(DNAINFO)  Allegra Hobbs | May 3, 2017 — Since the city first began accepting applications in March for affordable apartments at the sprawling Essex Crossing mega-development, hopeful applicants have been lining up outside the Asian Americans for Equalityoffices — some as early as 6 a.m. — to solicit language and form-filling assistance from the local nonprofit’s small staff.

By Executive Director Chris Kui’s estimate, roughly 6,000 applicants — flocking from across the boroughs, either non-English speaking or non-English proficient — have come through the tiny housing and community services headquarters at 111 Division St. for help navigating the city’s affordable housing lottery.

Of those 6,000 people, about 2,000 are hoping to snag one of the 104 affordable units at Essex Crossing’s “Site 5” at 145 Clinton St., which are going for as little as $519 a month, Kui said.

The other 4,000 have been senior citizens seeking one of the 99 low-cost senior apartments at 175 Delancey St., going for as little as $396 a month — the lottery for those apartments went live more recently, on April 17, and the lines have noticeably swelled since then, noted Kui.

Last Tuesday afternoon, despite being under heavy rain for much of the day, the line wrapped around the block, stretching from the office door on Division Street and down Allen Street, then snaking around East Broadway.

Source: Thousands Line Up To Apply for Essex Crossing Affordable Housing – Chinatown – DNAinfo New York