What percentage of your income is spent on housing costs? The rule of thumb is that a household should not spend more than 30% of total income for housing. According to a report issued by Gotham Gazette, about 1.1 million of the 3 million New York City households, or 36.7%, are living in housing that by this measure they cannot afford.

The report shows that 600,000 households, or 19.9%, are spending more than 50% on their incomes on housing.

In fact, “Many households are paying more than 55% of their income for their residence,” the president of Dunn Development, Martin Dunn, said.

“There is not enough housing at any price for households in New York City,” the president and CEO of Phipps Houses, Adam Weinstein, said.

Numerous people have asked how they can locate an affordable rental apartment in New York City.

One of the best sources for locating such information is available from the City of New York’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the largest municipal developer of affordable housing in the nation. HPD protects the existing housing stock and expands housing options for New Yorkers as it strives to improve the availability, affordability, and quality of housing in New York City. Three of the best resources to gain insight on available rental apartments are available on the Internet: at HPD’s site, www.nyc.gov/html/hpd; the New York City Housing Development Corporation’s site, www.nychdc.com, and at the New York State Housing Finance Agency’s site, www.nyhomes.org.

During the past 12 months, thousands of households have sent in applications for affordable apartments. About 15,000 were selected by lottery for apartments in the five boroughs. During the past year, approved applicants gained housing in a number of new luxury residential rental buildings.

A total of 38 affordable apartments were provided to households at the 32-story River East at 408 E. 92nd St. at First Avenue on the Upper East Side. On the West Side, about 120 households became residents in the Durst Organization’s 28-story building at 601 W. 57th St., called the Helena. On the fashionable Lower East Side, about 80 households became residents at Avalon Bay’s Avalon Chrystie Place at 229 Chrystie St. and Houston Street. Twenty percent of the Avalon Chrystie units will be rented to tenants whose incomes are at or below 50% of the city’s Area Median Income, adjusted for family size and high-cost-area designation. In addition, at least 15% of the low-in come units were rented to tenants whose incomes are at or below 40% of the AMI.

Last year, a total of 37,000 households applied for 140 apartments at Schafer’s Crossing in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. One of the developers of the project, Ron Moelis, a principal at L &M Equity Participants, said, “There are 140 happy people and lots of unhappy people who wanted to reside at the development. The biggest problem for households is to find out about the development, filing out the appropriate information.”

In 2006 resourceful New York City residents who search Internet and local newspapers will be able to learn of developments that will be available for affordable households. Twenty-four lucky households have until January 16 to rent an apartment at 417 E. 76th St. and 438 E. 76th St. on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Fifteen studio apartments are available for individuals at a rent of $615 a month. The individual’s annual income must be between $23,600 and $26,400. Nine one bedroom apartments are available for an individual or a household of two at a rent of $650 a month. The household’s annual income must range from $24,000 to $30,120.

Applications must be submitted prior to January 31 for 89 affordable housing rentals at 228-238 Nagle Ave. in the Inwood section of Manhattan. A total of 14 studio, 31 one-bedroom, and 44 two-bedroom units are available in this eight-story building. Monthly rents range from $561 for a studio to $720 for a two-bedroom unit. Household income must be between $22,440 and $37,680, depending on the unit. All units are to be rented to households earning not more than 60% of the New York City median income. A total of 10 units will be reserved for formerly homeless families.

Individuals have until February 13 to apply to live in Times Square. A total of 71 affordable housing units are under construction at 521 W. 42nd St. in the Midtown West section. Thirtythree lucky households can rent a one bedroom for $650 a month. A household of three to four can rent a two bedroom for $790 if its income is $30,000 to $37,680.

The deadline is February 1 to be eligible for an apartment at Silverleaf Hall, at 480 E. 176th St. in the Bronx. The seven-story building contains seven studios, 29 one-bedroom units, 26 two-bedroom units, and 20 three-bedroom units. All of the rental units will be reserved for households earning at or below 60% AMI pursuant to requirements of the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, of which 30% (35 units) will be reserved for formerly homeless tenants. Rents will range from $618 for a studio to $920 for a three bedroom apartment.

Next summer, the first new rental building in more than 15 years will open on Roosevelt Island. About 100 affordable apartments, ranging from studios to three bedrooms, will become available at The Octagon.

Next month, meanwhile, about 50 households will make their residence at Tower 31, a recently completed building at 9 W. 31st St. between Fifth Avenue and Broadway.

At the end of the year, about 90 households will get the opportunity to gain residence in the Sidney Fetner & Associates and Durst Organization mixed-use development on the block between West 31st and West 32nd streets and Sixth and Seventh avenues. The 60-story, 480 unit tower is adjacent to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

Affordable housing is made available through New York State Housing Finance Agency and New York City Housing Development Corporation financing programs. The HDC has developed innovative programs for affordable housing for city residents. Its Low-Income Affordable Marketplace Program provides financing for affordable rental housing reserved for people earning a maximum income of $26,400 for an individual and up to $37,680 for a family of four – equaling 60% of the AMI.

HDC’s New Housing Opportunities Program was created in response to the need to offering affordable housing opportunities to people that make modest, middle-income wages. Typically, apartments created through New HOP are reserved for households earning in the range of $30,000 for an individual to $125,000, or 175% of the AMI, for a family of four.

In order to have a chance to win the lottery for an apartment, an applicant is required to meet income guidelines and additional selection criteria. Applications are selected by the lottery, and preference is given to New York City residents. In addition, eligible applicants residing within the local community board of the residential development receive preference for 50% of the units. Eligible applicants who are mobility-impaired receive preference for 5% of the units. Eligible applicants who are vision- or hearing-impaired receive preference for 2% of the units. Eligible applicants who are municipal employees receive preference for 5% of the units.

Through the efforts of Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg, a number of households are gaining access to affordable housing. Unfortunately, due to the cost of purchasing land, only a limited number of new developments will be built unless the administration continues to create and sponsor innovative programs to provide affordable housing. Fortunately, our legislators have been cognizant enough to recognize the need to create crucial housing for our work force, the cornerstone of a strong economy.

Mr. Stoler is a television broadcaster and senior vice president at First American Title Insurance Company of New York. He can be reached at mstoler@firstam.com.