The wet weather in New York City didn’t keep the masses from lining up around the block to get their hands on discounted designer furnishings for their homes at Housing Works’ eighth annual Design on a Dime event held April 26 at the Metropolitan Pavilion.

The opening night reception featured room vignettes put together by some of the top interior designers. The donated furniture and accessories from top-notch brands were then sold at 50 to 70 percent off retail pricing.

In addition to the high-end rooms, there was a space to explore the services that Housing Works provides in New York City. The display called “Living Room: Housing Works Builds a Home” included a full-scale replica of one of Housing Works’ many supportive-housing units throughout the five boroughs.

Attending the fund-raiser were: cochair Evette Rios, a craft, design and entertaining expert, who partnered with HomeGoods to create a space inspired by royalty called “Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Soho Loft”; judge of HGTV Design Star and cochair Genevieve Gorder; ABC’s Good Morning America Lara Spencer, who designed a room in collaboration with One Kings Lane, was joined by her coanchors Josh Elliot and Sam Champion; interior designer and founding chair James Huniford; famous photographer Bill Cunningham; and Real Housewives of New York husband Simon van Kempen.

Proceeds from the event benefited Housing Works’ 874 Jefferson Avenue Residence Project, a new housing development to support single, formerly homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS. Since 2005, Design on a Dime has raised more than $2 million in support of Housing Works.