Every March, we mark Women’s History Month by celebrating the contributions women have made throughout American history as well as the achievements women continue to make today. This year’s theme highlights “women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion,” and we recognize women in our community who, through their leadership and advocacy, are helping to… MORE
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This year, the theme of Black History Month shines a light on African-American artists – writers, musicians, painters, dancers, actors, photographers, and more – who have helped shape our rich American culture and paved the way for current and future generations of Black creatives. Legendary late African-American creators such as poet Maya Angelou, actress Cicely… MORE
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On October 18, the 48th cohort to undertake the NYCHA Heat Training Unit’s specialized 13-week course on heating and maintenance successfully completed their training program. And on November 20, the group – who call themselves “The First 48” – were officially welcomed to the ranks of NYCHA-trained Heating Maintenance Workers and Heating Plant Technicians (HPT)… MORE
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The FDNY took fire safety education to the next level for NYCHA youth at Brooklyn’s Farragut Houses on October 24. Simulating a dark, smoke-filled environment, the FDNY’s mobile “Fire Safety House” aims to teach youth and other residents how to act in the event of a fire in their home. With the guidance of fire… MORE
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The theme of “Team Service” was celebrated throughout NYCHA by development and department staff who took part in communal activities to commemorate Customer Service Week 2023 from Monday, October 16 to Friday, October 20. Below are some highlights of how NYCHA colleagues spent the week visiting developments, reviewing best practices, interacting with their team, and… MORE
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Inside the carpenter shop at Tompkins Houses, Stephen Jackman opened a small door on what he calls his “keep everything compartment.” Indeed, this universal storage cart built by Mr. Jackman is an invention that would make many a hardware store clerk proud. Constructed of plywood and standing roughly four feet tall on wheels, the customized… MORE
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An annual NYCHA award honoring outstanding caretakers has recognized two women for the first time in its nearly 25-year history. The John DeCarlo Memorial Award, named after a longtime NYCHA caretaker who lost his life while on duty at Brooklyn’s Marlboro Houses in 1997, is presented each year to two exemplary caretakers with a minimum… MORE
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Jamie Rubin Named Chair of the NYCHA Board, Lisa Bova-Hiatt Named NYCHA CEO, New Members Named for NYCHA & Public Housing Preservation Trust Boards Mr. Rubin comes to NYCHA with three decades of experience in government, nonprofits, and the private sector, including leading the New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, New York State Homes and Community… MORE
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Claudia Dillon is NYCHA’s new Vice President of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI). She joined NYCHA in April; under her leadership, the Department of Equal Opportunity was renamed and its mission was expanded to develop more proactive functions, through tailored training; assessment of hiring practices using workforce data; and other Diversity, Equity,… MORE
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By the time many NYCHA colleagues are about to head home for the day, most employees serving in the Emergency Management and Services Department (EMSD) might be just getting started with their duties. That’s par for the course when you’re tasked with managing or assisting with nearly any type of emergency at NYCHA’s hundreds… MORE
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For one morning each month, some NYCHA employees are getting the chance to grab a coffee with the boss. The informal meetings with Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt are part of the newly relaunched “Coffee with the Interim CEO” series. A group of approximately 20 NYCHA employees can speak directly with Ms. Bova-Hiatt about their work… MORE
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Meet Leticia Barboza, NYCHA’s Photographer (Who Goes the Extra Mile – Sometimes Vertically) The work of NYCHA Staff Photographer Leticia Barboza – whose handiwork you’ve seen in many of the articles here – aligns perfectly with the theme of this year’s Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories. And Ms. Barboza is known… MORE
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During Black History Month, we are reminded of the opportunity that public housing has provided to countless families since its foundation and its role in fostering a society that is more fair and just. We spoke with Marvin Walton, NYCHA’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, who has spent decades working in public housing, to get his thoughts on the institution, what it’s like to help run the largest public housing authority in the nation, and what the future may bring.
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On January 12, PIX-11 featured an interview between reporter Monica Morales and NYCHA’s Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Eva Trimble at Wald Houses to discuss their work and goals. During the segment on NYCHA’s leadership team, the Interim CEO and COO met with front-line heating and elevator teams composed of women.… MORE
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Lisa Bova-Hiatt was appointed NYCHA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in September 2022. She was previously the Authority’s Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, a role she held for nearly three years. With more than 25 years of experience at various City and State agencies, Ms. Bova-Hiatt brings deep knowledge of how… MORE
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Over the past two years, NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR) replaced 6,188 roof fans across the Authority. Engineers determined that the balance of NYCHA’s roof fans – 2,248 roof fans – are fully functional and safe and can be left in place. The roof fans replacement project is part of a larger… MORE
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LaTonya Smith has come back to NYCHA more than 20 years after she left her childhood home for a successful career in the NYPD. The former Surfside Gardens resident and NYPD veteran entered a new phase of her law enforcement career in August, when she joined NYCHA as the first woman of color to serve… MORE
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When an elevator breaks down at one of NYCHA’s developments, requiring a traction pulley or bearing to be repaired, NYCHA’s machinist shop in Long Island City will likely get the call. In the basement of one of NYCHA’s satellite offices, the shop houses specialized machinery such as a CNC (computer numerical control) lathe and vertical… MORE
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Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams joined the NYCHA, New York Power Authority (NYPA), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to announce the Clean Heat for All Challenge (#CleanHeat4All or #CH4A) — making an initial $70 million investment in the development and production of 30,000 new heat pump units for use in New York City public housing facilities.
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In just six years, NYCHA’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program has generated more than $3.4 billion in capital funding for comprehensive apartment renovations and building infrastructure improvements for nearly 15,500 households across the city. An additional 19,700 NYCHA households are slated to receive the enhancements at properties that are currently in the process of… MORE
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NYCHA Caretaker Angel Martinez can often be seen wearing a smile as he works each day to maintain a safe and clean environment for residents and employees at Smith Houses in Manhattan. Fellow veteran Caretaker Rebecca Miranda is well regarded for her customer service, which has helped make hers a familiar name among the residents… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who provide excellent service to residents. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. In this installment, meet Anneliee Almonte, an Administrative Community Relations Specialist who coordinates dust wipe sampling as part of NYCHA’s work to address lead at our… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who provide excellent service to residents and exemplify NYCHA’s core values. In this installment, meet Sarah Figuereo, Community Coordinator in the Family Partnerships Department, who’s been with NYCHA for six years: “I am responsible for screening and visiting the homes of residents who want their loved ones to… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who provide excellent service to residents and exemplify NYCHA’s core values. In this installment, meet John Kolomechuk, Housing Manager in the Customer Operations Department: “In my 25-plus years at NYCHA, I have served as a housing assistant, assistant manager, development manager, and borough manager. I’m now a housing… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who provide excellent service to residents. Learn more about how we’re connecting residents to opportunity through their perspective. In this installment, meet Erica DeJesus, Community Coordinator in the Resident Engagement Department: “I started at NYCHA nine years ago as a community center director in the Bronx. When I… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who provide excellent service to residents. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. In this installment, meet Matt Dixon, Senior Project Manager in the Capital Projects Division: “As a senior project manager, I oversee a team that completes capital… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who provide excellent service to residents. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. In this installment, meet Jaison Buchanan, an Oil Burner Specialist for nearly three years: “I perform repairs, from boilers to within tank rooms, to ensure efficient… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking men and women who provide excellent service to residents. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. In this installment, meet Dana Hylton, a NYCHA Exterminator since 2012: My goal is to improve the quality of life for all residents. I conduct… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking men and women who provide excellent service to residents, including through the NYCHA Cares and weekend maintenance work order blitz initiatives. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. In this installment, meet Robert Rodriguez, a Maintenance Worker since 2010: We go… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking men and women who provide excellent service to residents, including through the NYCHA Cares and weekend maintenance work order blitz initiatives. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. In this installment, meet James Nelson, a NYCHA Plasterer since 2012: “We go… MORE
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We’re periodically featuring the hardworking men and women who provide excellent service to residents, including through the NYCHA Cares and weekend maintenance work order blitz initiatives. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. Our first profile is of Taiesha Andino, a Caretaker P who’s been with… MORE
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March was National Social Work Month and, in recognition, the Family Partnerships Department hosted a ceremony for all of NYCHA’s social workers and social service coordinators on March 28 in the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room. This year’s national theme – Elevate Social Work – provided an opportunity to highlight the vital role social workers… MORE
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Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) launched April 1 at 13 consolidated developments: Farragut, Ingersoll, Marcy, Stuyvesant, Tompkins, and Whitman Houses in Brooklyn and Clinton, Dyckman, Harlem River, Polo Grounds Towers, Rangel, Riis, and Saint Nicholas Houses in Manhattan. It’s a new way of scheduling certain front-line staff: caretakers, their supervisors, assistant resident building superintendents, and resident… MORE
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Watch this video message from Interim Chair & CEO Kathryn Garcia:
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Watch the video below for a special look inside NYCHA’s new and improved Situation Room. Our heating staff is working 24/7 to better serve our residents. Residents should call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771, or use the MyNYCHA app, to report heat and/or hot water complaints.
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Ashley Lewis is a Caretaker J at Brownsville Houses who wants to keep herself and her colleagues safe at work. As with all NYCHA developments, safety information at Brownsville Houses is posted in a location visible to all employees. However, in passing the bulletin board, Ms. Lewis felt that the information wasn’t exactly eye-catching. She… MORE
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More than 13,000 work orders have been completed during the first round of the recently launched NYCHA Cares initiative. Mayor Bill de Blasio committed $20 million for Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020 to target the more than 50,000 open work order requests across the five boroughs for repairs that require skilled trades workers, which include… MORE
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NYCHA departments and developments celebrated Customer Service Week 2018 from October 15 to 19 by hosting events on the theme of “Exceeding Expectations.” Below are some highlights of how NYCHA colleagues spent the week reviewing best practices, motivating each other, and sharing tips and resources as the Authority renewed its commitment to providing great customer… MORE
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Message from Vilma Huertas, Executive Vice President for Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer We hope this week has provided moments of motivation and collaboration for you and your colleagues as you’ve reviewed customer service best practices, brainstormed new solutions to challenging problems, and focused on how you can better serve NYCHA residents every day.… MORE
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This summer, Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff met with property managers representing every borough, including NGO and mixed-finance properties, to discuss some of the Authority’s challenges and how they can be overcome. Here is a condensed version of his remarks: I wanted to talk with you about the consent decree with the federal government,… MORE
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NYCHA’s Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) strives to create a more inclusive environment for staff. The EEC partners with NYCHA leadership to champion a cohesive, collaborative organization that can bring about the Authority’s goals to change the way we do business as a landlord and create safe, clean, and connected communities for residents. EEC members are… MORE
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This June, NYCHA recognized two exemplary employees with the John DeCarlo Memorial Award. The award is presented annually to caretakers who go above and beyond in service to residents; it was established to continue the legacy of John DeCarlo, a Marlboro Houses caretaker beloved by residents and colleagues alike who lost his life on duty… MORE
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Dear Colleagues, I am excited to join you today as Interim Chair & CEO of the Housing Authority. As the landlord for a population the size of the city of Milwaukee, NYCHA is critical to the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. I want you to know that I care deeply about our city… MORE
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Sudari Freeman is a heating superintendent in Brooklyn. She’s also a native of the borough and a former resident of Sumner Houses. NYCHANow spoke with her to learn more about what she does. What does a heating superintendent do? I make sure that heat and hot water are maintained throughout the 24 developments I’m responsible… MORE
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When Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed her four years ago, NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye committed to visiting as many developments as possible to reset the relationship with NYCHA’s stakeholders. She recently visited her 300th development – Tilden Houses in Brooklyn – and to commemorate this milestone, a few of her colleagues presented Chair… MORE
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On February 22, the Authority held its first “speed mentoring” event for members of the NYCHA Youth Leadership Councils (YLC). Sixty high school students were connected to sixty mentors for a series of short and focused one-on-one conversations aimed at building their networking and public speaking skills. The mentors, who volunteered their time, included professionals… MORE
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Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, NYCHA’s Director of Public/Private Partnerships and the President of the Fund for Public Housing, and Sideya Sherman, NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Community Engagement and Partnerships, were among the 48 leaders selected to join the Sterling Network NYC. The first network of its kind in the city, the Network was created by the… MORE
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Dear Colleagues, 2017 was a year of accomplishment and challenge. Your commitment and hard work has resulted in significant progress on our NextGeneration NYCHA goals. On behalf of the 1 in 14 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am proud to work beside you and look… MORE
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As part of NYCHA’s efforts to improve customer service, the Authority is piloting a live-in caretaker program at three senior developments in the Bronx: Boston Road Plaza, Middletown Plaza, and Twin Parks East. The live-in caretaker performs janitorial and maintenance work in the developments during regular business hours. As a resident of the development, he… MORE
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NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye kicked off the Fall Leadership Meeting, a daylong convening of 200 senior staff, with an inspiring quote from the writer James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” The October 3 event was held in an auditorium at… MORE
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Robert White, a Red Hook Houses resident and member of NYCHA’s Sandy recovery and resilience community outreach team, introduced Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference about the City’s efforts to combat climate change. “For the longest time, I didn’t believe in climate change,” Mr. White told attendees from a podium in Brooklyn Bridge… MORE
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The last Thursday of the month has a familiar routine for NYCHA’s executive team. That’s a day designated each month when senior leadership visits developments to speak with managers and frontline staff. The monthly visits launched with little fanfare in March 2016. Each senior team member chooses a location to visit from a group of… MORE
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On March 27, Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye addressed more than 900 affordable housing leaders at the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment (NAHRO) annual meeting in Washington. She announced that NYCHA and NAHRO have banded together to build a national movement of PHAs and their advocates and partners. The coalition will lobby at the… MORE
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