When applying for affordable housing lotteries managed by municipal or state housing agencies, every applicant receives a log number. This number is a unique marker that establishes an application’s position within the selection queue for a specific housing opportunity. The log number is the primary determinant of when, or if, an application will be reviewed for eligibility by the housing provider. Understanding what constitutes a “low” log number is not straightforward, as its value is constantly shifting based on the specific lottery’s characteristics and the total volume of applications received.
How Log Numbers Are Generated and Used
The log number is assigned through a computerized randomization process after the official application window has closed. This systematic assignment means applying early offers no advantage in securing a lower number. Housing agencies process applications in ascending order, starting with log number 1. This numerical sequence dictates the chronological order in which applicants are contacted to submit verification documents. Only those applicants whose log numbers are reached will have their income, assets, and household composition reviewed for final eligibility.
The Relative Definition of a Low Log Number
A “low” log number is not a fixed value but is relative to the total number of applications and the number of units available. The goal is to be within the top percentile of applicants, a number that changes significantly for every lottery. For example, if a lottery has 50 units and receives 25,000 applications, only those with log numbers in the lowest hundreds have a realistic chance of being contacted. In highly competitive lotteries, such as those for low Area Median Income (AMI) brackets, a log number must often be below 300 to guarantee an initial document request.
Conversely, developments targeting higher AMI brackets often experience less competition, meaning a number in the low thousands may still be considered low enough for selection. The number of units plays a substantial role in determining the cutoff. A large development with 500 affordable units will go much deeper into the log number list than a small one with only 10 units. The true measure of a low log number is its proximity to the total number of units multiplied by a realistic contact buffer, typically two to four times the unit count to account for rejections.
Why Log Numbers Aren’t Always Sequential
The numerical sequence of log numbers is the default order for processing, but this order is superseded by legally mandated preference categories. These preferences create distinct tiers in the applicant pool that are processed before the general population, regardless of the assigned log number. This hierarchy means the application review process is not strictly sequential from log number 1 onward.
Common preference categories include local residents, who may have up to 50% of the units set aside, and applicants with disabilities or municipal employees. All applicants within a preference group are processed first, in order of their log numbers, before the agency moves to the general applicant pool. For instance, an applicant with a local resident preference and a log number of 5,000 will be contacted before a general applicant with a log number of 500. This system significantly impacts non-preference applicants, who need a disproportionately lower log number to compensate. A general applicant must fall within the remaining percentage of units after all preference groups have been exhausted.