New York Magazine - USA (2019-09-16)

september16–29, 2019 | newyork 65

slightlyo-kilter,in-the-side-doortipsinstead.bymargaretrhodes,matthewsedacca,andkatyschneider

Requestaccessforpagesof meat-freeorqueer-friendlyorAustralian-only(butKiwi-permitting)housing.

A NICHE

JOIN FACEBOOK GROUP

a fewyearsback,whileworkinga part-

timeofficejob,doinghairweavingontheside,

andsinginginclubsonweekends—altogether

hustlinglikecrazytomakeendsmeetandpur-

suingmydreamasa singer—Imeta Realtor,a

sister,whoworkedfora BatteryParkCity

apartmentcomplex.I offereda coolperk:I’d

weaveherhairif shepulledsomestringsandhelpedmefinda decent

apartment.Shedid—andI did.Shegotsomeamazingweaves,and

I landeda greatpad.Itturnedoutfabulous.”

TheSHABBAT-AND-KOSHER-OBSERVINGONE

“I joinedSS/SKClassifieds—Apartment/RoommateInfoontherecommendationofsomeofmyJewish

friends.Thecoolthingaboutapartmenthuntingwhenyouareina communityofpeoplewhokeepShabbatis that

it’slikelyyou’llhave 80 mutualfriendsonFacebookwitheveryperson,whichmakesit easytoensureyourwould-

beroommateisn’tthetypewho’llmurderyou.”—JORDYNKAUFMAN,24,contentdeveloperata Jewishnonprofit

BARTERYOURWAYTOA

BETTER

APARTMENT

BETTESMITH,singer-songwriter

APPLY

TOATONOF

HOUSING

LOTTERIES

KEITHABRAMS,

AVtech

“Untilrecently,I was

workingoddjobsand

livingwithroommates

ina dump.I had

readaboutthe80/20

HousingProgram

and,forthehellofit,

appliedtoa dozen.

Youputinyourname,

address,number,and

emailandpickplaces

thatfitinyourincome

bracket.It’slike

shoppingon

FreshDirect.Fast-

forwardthreeyears:

I getthisemailsaying

thisnewbuilding

wantedtointerview

me.Thatwasreally

stressful.Theyturn

overeverystone,

I handedintwoinches

ofpaperwork.I went

deepintotheBronx

tointerview,andthree

weekslaterthey

offeredmea brand-

newstudiofor$1,050

intheSouthBronx.

I’mtwoblocksfrom

the2 expresstrain.

Thewholethingwas

worthdoinganother

fourtimes.”

TheBIGGESTONE OFTHEMALL

“GypsyHousing,whichhas250,000members,is comparableinscaletoCraigslistbutmorereliablebecausethe

renterandrenteecancheckouteachother’sprofiles.I guessthat’sthegeneralbenefitoffindinganapartment

onFacebook.I gotmylastapartmentinBushwickthroughGypsyandlikeit a lot.”—AMARSTEWART,artist

TheQUEER-TO-QUEER-HOUSINGONE

“QueerHousingNewYorkCity,a queer/trans-housingFacebookgroup,is thriving:Thereare31,000

activemembers.It doesn’tallowbrokers,or,ofcourse,anysortofintolerance.It alsoleanstowardaffordable

housing,asit’smeantfora disenfranchisedcommunity.”—FRANTIRADO,deputyeditorofOUT

ANDSOMEOTHEROPTIONS

VEGANROOMRENTNYC Thisgrouprequirespotentialmemberstoanswerquestions,suchas:Areyou

veganorvegetarian?And:Areyouawarethisgroupis onlyforthoselookingfororrentingforvegansor

vegetarians?BOCOCAGOPARENTS& FAMILIES Thoughit’snotspecificallyforhousing,twobedroomsin

desirableschooldistrictsarefrequentlylistedinthisSouthBrooklyngroup.AUSTRALIANSINNEWYORK—

NYCACCOMMODATION Toqualify,youmustfirstjoinAustraliansinNewYork& NYC,whichhelpsAussies

(who“don’tmindKiwis,either”)findotherAussiesinthecity.Memberspostlistingsonthehousingoffshootdaily.

Illustrations by Nishant Choksi

TING APARTMENT

AN