An applicant, or a member of the household, must be at least 62 years of age and income eligible to apply.

Annual income limits are subject to change. The current income limits are:
1-PERSON HOUSEHOLD: $77,200
2-PERSON HOUSEHOLD: $88,200

            Rent Surcharge may apply if household income is above:
                  Studio: $58,464   One Bedroom: $71,988

A household regardless of family size, whose income is greater than 100% of the established Admission Income Limit but does not exceed 125% of the established Admission Income Limit, is also eligible for admission with a surcharge.

Monthly rent amounts are subject to change. The current rents are:
STUDIO (450 sq. ft.): $696 (effective 9/1/24)
ONE BEDROOM (585 sq. ft.): $857 (effective 9/1/24)

Utilities included in the rent are: heat, hot water, electricity, air conditioning, water, sewer, and trash removal.

Apartment stoves are electric. Heat is radiated hot water.

Parking fees are subject to change. The current monthly rates are:
UNCOVERED PARKING: $20
COVERED PARKING: $40

Smoking Policy: McGraw House is committed to promoting a healthy living environment for all residents, staff and visitors.  Therefore, smoking is prohibited on all property owned and managed by McGraw House.

This includes all enclosed areas, but is not limited to, resident apartments, common work areas, rooms, hallways, stairs, lobby, dining room, lounges, elevators, restrooms, and any other enclosed area.

Smoking shall also be prohibited in all outdoor areas without exception. This includes, but is not limited to, all doorways, sidewalks, parking lots, grounds, roof deck, and any other outdoor area.

Smoke-free areas also include the adjacent building, property and parking lot owned by the Ladies Union Benevolent Society.

“Smoking” shall be defined as inhaling, exhaling, using, burning, or disposing of any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, e-cigarette, vaping, marijuana, or other lighted smoking device.

Pet Policy: Pets are welcome! A maximum of two common household pets are permitted per household.  Common household pets are defined as: cats, dogs (under 30 lbs), birds, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, and fish.  The following animals are not permitted: reptiles, rodents, insects, arachnids, ferrets, wild or feral animals, pot-bellied pigs, or animals used for commercial breeding. Residents with pets must sign and abide by our pet policy. Service and Assistance Animal accommodations provided. 

Preference on the waiting list will be given to all VETERANS, or their surviving spouse, who served in active duty in the time of war, as defined by Section 85 of the Civil Service Law, and reside in New York State.

Preference may also be provided to applicants in order to meet set income-targeting requirements and to ensure that at least eight (8) housing units are occupied by “special needs/frail” residents at all times.

Step 1: Submit Waiting List Application

• McGraw House will mail you a letter to confirm your placement on the waiting list

Step 2: Screening Process

• McGraw House will contact you when you are getting close to the top of the waiting list to schedule an appointment to meet with you
• Screening items include: household income, criminal background, rental references (if any), and credit/ability to pay rent
• Once eligibility has been determined, you will receive a letter to inform you if you have been approved or denied for housing

Step 3:  Unit Offer

• Once you have been approved for housing, you will be contacted as soon as a unit is available

Step 4:  Lease Signing

• If you accept a unit offer, then you will be asked to provide a security deposit (equivalent to one month of rent) and sign a lease for that rental unit to secure the apartment
• At that appointment, we will also review additional McGraw House information (emergency contact information, resident handbook, dining program, etc.)

Step 5:  Moving In

• Once the unit is ready (previous tenant moves out and rehab of unit is complete), then we will schedule an appointment to conduct an inspection of the unit together
• Following the inspection, you will be required to pay the 1st month’s rent
• Then, you will be provided with the keys to your apartment and you may move in

We always have a waiting list for apartments. The length of wait time varies greatly and is dependent on many factors such as preferences and what size apartment is desired. McGraw House will notify applicants of the approximate wait list time once an application has been received and the “confirmation of receipt of application” letter is sent out.

To obtain an application to be placed on our waiting list, please select one of the following options:

CALL: 607-272-7054 (TTP: 800-662-1220)

FAX: 607-272-3614

IN-PERSON: 221 S. Geneva St. Ithaca, NY 14850

VIA MAIL: 700 McGraw House Ithaca, NY 14850

DOWNLOAD:  McGraw House Application

Or, Submit an ELECTRONIC REQUEST via our “Contact Us” section

The Automated Waiting List (AWL) is a web-based system that enables NY state-supervised housing companies to store and process applicant information more efficiently. The function of the AWL is to make waiting list information available to the public while safeguarding the confidentiality of personal applicant information. For more information on the AWL system, please visit: https://hcr.ny.gov/mitchell-lama-automated-waiting-list-apps-awl

If you have applied and would like to see where you are on the waiting list, you may do so by going online here in order to review your waiting list status: https://apps.hcr.ny.gov/AutomatedWaitingList/PositionQuery.aspx

Please note:

• You must know your assigned “application number”. You will be notified what your application number is in the initial letter that you receive from McGraw House to confirm that we have received your application and that you have been placed on our waiting list.
• If you applied recently, your application might not appear in the system yet.
• All Mitchell-Lama housing developments provide preference to internal transfer applicants for three out of every four apartments of each size that become available.  Consequently, admission waiting lists do not move as quickly as transfer waiting lists.
• Additional factors such as the preference requirements may also impact the length of time an applicant spends on the waiting list and the order in which applicants are selected from the waiting list.