Meet Antonia Zambrano, Assistant Director of LHD Central Office Operations

Twenty-three years ago, Antonia Zambrano submitted her resume at a job fair and shortly after became a NYCHA employee. Starting out as a Bilingual Housing Assistant for the Leased Housing Department, she is now the Assistant Director of the Leased Housing Department’s Central Office Operations. All of the positions Ms. Zambrano has held at the… MORE

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Veteran Caretakers Presented with John DeCarlo Award for Exemplary Service 

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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Spotlight on NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association

The Chinese-American Association (CAA) is one of many employee associations at NYCHA. The association was created almost three decades ago to promote Chinese language and culture and to strengthen bonds among co-workers. Currently, the CAA has more than 200 members, including several retired employees who remain active in the association.  In May, the CAA observed… MORE

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Governor Signs Legislation Establishing the Public Housing Preservation Trust

On June 16, Governor Kathy Hochul signed new legislation S.9409-A /A.7805-D establishing the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust and paving the way for the overdue repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of 25,000 apartments under control of the New York City Housing Authority. Governor Hochul signed the bills alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Assembly Member Steven… MORE

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Meet Cherry McCutchen, Director of Learning and Development

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact and contributions of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.    “I’m ‘Cherry.’ I don’t ascribe to labels or pronouns. If someone asks how… MORE

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The Fund for Public Housing Names New Executive Director 

Alex Zablocki, a veteran public servant with experience working with nonprofit organizations and government agencies at all levels, was recently appointed Executive Director of the Fund for Public Housing.    Mr. Zablocki will be supported by Deputy Director Claire McLeveighn in leading the nonprofit Fund for Public Housing in its mission of enhancing opportunities and quality… MORE

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Refurbished Basketball Court Opens for Play at Patterson Houses 

A newly upgraded basketball court dubbed by residents as “Patterson Square Garden” recently made its debut at Patterson Houses in the Bronx.  The court located near East 143rd Street received improvements such as new hoops, seating, surfacing, court markings, and painting. The approximately $500,000 project was funded by City Councilwoman Diana Ayala.   The court renovations… MORE

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Community Visioning for the Future of Todt Hill and St. Nicholas Houses

Residents of Todt Hill and St. Nicholas Houses recently had the opportunity to provide their ideas and feedback on the repair and modernization project coming to their developments as part of NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization initiative. Once complete, these large-scale renovations — $115 million for Todt Hill and $342 million for St. Nicholas — will drastically improve… MORE

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NYCHA Celebrates New Community Garden at Manhattanville Houses

NYCHA has a long-standing commitment to fostering resident access to green spaces at its developments. A 2017 survey of NYCHA gardens, conducted by the NYC Parks Department’s GreenThumb program, counted 595 gardens at 146 NYCHA developments. One recent community garden was created at Manhattanville Houses in West Harlem by former NYCHA residents in partnership with… MORE

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Indoor Air Quality at NYCHA

NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department’s Indoor Air Quality Oversight Team (IAQOT) identifies and addresses hazards that impact air quality, such as mold, leaks, asbestos, toxic gases, and other airborne contaminants. The IAQOT includes one administrator and five specialists, who perform a range of health hazards investigations and oversight of mold remediations to ensure that… MORE

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$434 Million in Comprehensive Renovations Completed at 9 Developments

Resident Association Leaders, PACT Partners Deliver Comprehensive Apartment Upgrades, Renovated Community Spaces, and Infrastructure Enhancements That Will Improve Public Safety and Quality of Life for More Than 6,000 Brooklynites On May 20, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel, NYCHA Chair and CEO Greg… MORE

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Meet the OEM Field Coordinators Team

NYCHA’s Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) Field Coordinators program improves the coordination of response efforts to emergency incidents across the Authority. Before becoming a permanent program, the initiative was launched in 2019 as a six-month pilot program, with 12 on-call field coordinators managing day-to-day communications between different responding departments (and, in some cases, other City agencies).… MORE

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Celebrating Graduates of NYCHA’s Construction Training

Sixteen NYCHA residents recently graduated from the NYCHA Resident Training Academy’s (NRTA) construction training. The training was conducted by the Business & Industry Workforce Training Center at CUNY’s New York City College of Technology. The NRTA is a collaboration among NYCHA, the Robin Hood Foundation, and a variety of premier training providers in New York… MORE

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City Cleanup Corps: A Foot in the Door to NYCHA

Some New Yorkers who applied for and got positions in the City’s temporary economic recovery program, City Cleanup Corps, didn’t expect that those short-term positions would open the door to permanent employment and the start of hopefully long careers at NYCHA. The City Cleanup Corps (NYC CCC) employed approximately 10,000 New Yorkers across 10 City agencies… MORE

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NYCHA’s Mattress Recycling Featured in Circular City Week

On May 3, NYCHA’s mattress recycling program, NYC’s first and only mattress recycling program, was discussed during Circular City Week, an open collaborative festival dedicated to topics about circular economy (that is, an economy where goods are reused and recycled as much as possible). Circular City Week is the biggest circular economy festival in the… MORE

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NYCHA’s Capital Projects Roundup: April

In April, NYCHA’s Capital Projects Division (CPD) completed security camera installations, lighting upgrades, and exterior building restoration in the Bronx and Manhattan as part of its work to provide enhanced services for residents and employees.   CPD oversees more than $1 billion in construction projects across the Authority’s portfolio that are funded with federal, State, and… MORE

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Preschoolers at Smith Houses Compost Food Scraps

The Hamilton-Madison House preschool, located at NYCHA’s Smith Houses in Manhattan, installed a compost bin so preschoolers can compost food scraps from their lunches and snacks. The bin was established with funding from City Council Member Christopher Marte and is maintained by Earth Matter, a non-profit dedicated to advancing composting in the metropolitan area. The… MORE

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Discussing Data Sharing with NYCHA’s Chief Information Officer

NYCHA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Patti Bayross recently participated in City & State’s Creating a Culture of Data Sharing panel, which brought together data and information leaders in public service to discuss how to foster a data-sharing culture in government.   Ms. Bayross spoke about how information technology and data sharing at… MORE

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Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit Available for NYCHA Residents

NYCHA residents from Harlem, the Upper East Side, and Queens can now check their prostate health at the Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit. The mobile van – which is the result of collaboration between NYCHA, the “One Hundred Black Men” non-profit, and Mount Sinai’s Department of Urology – was launched… MORE

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Basketball Court, BBQ Spaces Support Connected Communities at Pomonok Houses

NYCHA’s Connected Communities initiative is focused on activating and improving open space, through efforts to enhance physical and social connections between residents and their communities.  One development where this initiative is taking shape with the support of an active resident community is Pomonok Houses in Queens. An outreach effort that was launched a few years… MORE

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Meet the EHS Elevator Oversight Team (EOT)

NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) Elevator Oversight Team (EOT) has extensive knowledge about the maintenance, repair, and inspection of passenger elevators as well as regulations and safety requirements related to elevators.     The EOT ensures that NYCHA’s Elevator Service and Repair Department (ESRD) is providing safe and reliable elevator operations for NYCHA… MORE

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Significant Changes in Operations

Dear Colleagues,  I am pleased to announce a key update regarding a restructuring within NYCHA’s Operations division.   After conducting an extensive analysis, we are dividing Waste Management and Pest Control into two separate departments, which will now be under the oversight of the new Operations Support Services division. This separation will allow us to have… MORE

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Earth Week Commemorated with Events Across NYCHA

NYCHA is celebrating the spirit of Earth Week in a variety of ways, with residents, employees, volunteers, and community partners doing their part to help the environment and encourage a sustainable future.    From green events and activities to speeches on environmentally friendly programs, such efforts support the mission of NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda, a roadmap for… MORE

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NYCHA Neighborhood Administrator Presents Career Tips to Harlem Youth

NYCHA employee Anthony Dingle looked back on his 32 years of experience when seeking some words of wisdom for a group of young students at the Harlem Children’s Zone.   In a virtual, career-themed speech to the youth on April 13, Mr. Dingle, a Manhattan neighborhood administrator, offered some advice on how to keep a job… MORE

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NYCHA’s Waste Calculator to Efficiently Manage Waste and Increase Recycling

Waste management is one of the most complex challenges that NYCHA faces. Since the release of NYCHA’s 2.0 Waste Management Plan in 2019 and NYCHA’s new Sustainability Agenda in 2021, NYCHA is making comprehensive changes to its waste management practices and infrastructure. One outcome of these changes has been the NYCHA Waste Calculator. NYCHA generates… MORE

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$72 Million of Heating System Improvements Coming to Marble Hill and Berry Houses

On April 19, NYCHA and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced the start of construction on energy-efficient heating upgrades at Marble Hill Houses in the Bronx and Berry Houses on Staten Island. The $72 million projects will provide greater heat and hot water service for more than 4,000 residents across 2,100 public housing apartments… MORE

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Bronx Development Gets First Induction Stoves in Move to Become Fully Electrified

Ten Bronx residents have joined NYCHA’s efforts for a cleaner environment at their building and beyond by shifting their cooking to electric-powered stoves.   The residents of 1471 Watson Avenue received their free induction stoves in February, thanks to a partnership between NYCHA and the nonprofit WE ACT for Environmental Justice. The 10 initial stove… MORE

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NYCHA Chair Russ Discusses Housing Preservation at Crain’s Power Breakfast

On April 6, NYCHA’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer Gregory Russ was interviewed by Crain’s New York Business Editor-in-Chief Cory Schouten as part of this year’s first “Crain’s Power Breakfast.” Approximately 150 business and nonprofit executives and government leaders attended the event, including Jessica Katz, the City’s Chief Housing Officer. Chair Russ discussed how a… MORE

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13 NYCHA-owned Houses to Be Rehabilitated and Sold to Low- and Moderate-income New Yorkers

Sixteen eligible families will have an opportunity to purchase their first home through “Habitat Net Zero,” a project bringing long-term affordable homeownership opportunities to Southeast Queens. Through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Open Door program, 13 vacant, dilapidated, previously NYCHA-owned houses will be rehabilitated into 16 new Passive House standards homes… MORE

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NYCHA’s Capital Projects Roundup: March

In March, NYCHA’s Capital Projects Division (CPD) marked the completion of energy conservation and restoration projects across the city that will bring a variety of benefits and improved services for residents and the surrounding community.   CPD oversees more than $1 billion in construction projects across the Authority’s portfolio that are funded with federal, State, and… MORE

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Meet Kimberly Taylor, Director of Public Housing Tenancy Operations

Kimberly Taylor, who grew up at Manhattan’s Johnson Houses, is now the Authority’s Director of Public Housing Tenancy Operations. But when her NYCHA career journey began nearly four decades ago, she was an Emergency Services Aide in the Emergency Services Department (ESD). Back then, in 1984, work tickets were written out by hand and then… MORE

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NYCHA’s Open Space Masterplan Recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects

A landscape architecture and urban design firm has been recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) for its contributions to two NYCHA initiatives, including the Open Space Masterplan.   NYCHA partner Grain Collective, a minority- and women-led firm, was selected by ASLA’s New York City chapter to receive Merit Awards honoring the firm’s site… MORE

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Free Internet Installed at 3 NYCHA Developments

On March 26, three Manhattan NYCHA developments – Riis, Wald, and Baruch Houses – celebrated the launch of free internet service for residents provided by Flume Internet. The initiative is part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service and connected devices. ACP seeks to ensure that… MORE

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Capital Projects Division Employees Honored for Exemplary Service

NYCHA’s Capital Projects Division (CPD) presented six staff members with its 2021 Employee Recognition Award to honor their exemplary efforts toward meeting the department’s mission. CPD is committed to preserving and modernizing public housing for NYCHA residents by providing professional design and construction services efficiently and with the highest degree of safety and quality.    The… MORE

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Women’s History Month: A Spotlight on Women at NYCHA

This year’s National Women’s History theme, “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless and vital work of caregivers and front-line workers (especially during a pandemic) as well as a recognition of the countless ways that women have provided healing and hope throughout history. We’d like to honor the contributions to… MORE

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NYCHA’s Chief Information Officer Talks About Our Tech

NYCHA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Patti Bayross recently participated in City & State’s 2022 Digital New York Summit, which brought together technology and information leaders for thought-provoking conversations about their work. Ms. Bayross was part of a panel titled “Using Technology to Impact our Communities,” which provided her the opportunity to present… MORE

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Inspiring a Compliance Culture

Read the Compliance Department’s Quarterly Newsletter Restart of PHAS REAC Inspections Background Nearly two years after being put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) restarted Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspections at NYCHA developments in January 2022. With the restart… MORE

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Stakeholders Give Thumbs-up to NYCHA’s Work Order Reform in Queens, Staten Island

A new process of scheduling work orders in NYCHA buildings is already making strides in Queens and Staten Island communities, according to several of those who have experienced the changes firsthand.   After an initial pilot period, NYCHA launched its Work Order Reform program across Queens and Staten Island late last year, seeking to improve the… MORE

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Green City Force Graduates its 22nd Cohort of NYCHA Residents

In March, Green City Force (GCF) celebrated the graduation of its 22nd Cohort via Zoom, 22 members who began their service to NYCHA communities during the pandemic. GCF is an AmeriCorps program that provides NYCHA residents ages 18 to 24 with full-time service projects, training, and education on sustainability and green technologies, as well as… MORE

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Youth Council Presents Ideas for Improved Waste Management at NYCHA

Some young NYCHA residents are thinking more critically about how NYCHA can improve its waste management practices.   Calling for the use of large trash and recycling bins with wraparound designs and messaging as well as strategically placed signage at developments, the residents proposed such improvements for the culmination project of a new sustainability-focused youth council. … MORE

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NYCHA Observes World Water Day

March 22 is World Water Day, an opportunity to reflect on the importance of access to safe, fresh water. Stormwater management solutions, for example, are a vital part of NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda, and several initiatives focused on this important work are currently underway. One of them is NYCHA’s  Climate Adaptation Plan, which outlines the Authority’s approach to… MORE

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Chair Russ Featured on “YIMBY Nation” Podcast

NYCHA’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer Greg Russ was recently featured in an episode of “YIMBY Nation,” a podcast hosted by Jimmy Lee Miller, Vincencia Adusei, and Peter J. Wood that provides a forum for affordable housing professionals to discuss their work. During the half-hour conversation, Chair Russ highlighted the Authority’s efforts to revitalize its buildings, the… MORE

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Meet Lisa Bova-Hiatt, Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel

Twenty-seven years ago, when Lisa Bova-Hiatt started her career at the New York City Law Department, Office of the Corporation Counsel, she didn’t know the turns her career would take over the years – but she knew for sure that she wanted to serve the city where she was born and grew up. Since then,… MORE

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Healthy Start @ NYCHA Program Launches with Baby Shower at Ingersoll Houses

On March 5, NYCHA’s Health Initiatives team, in partnership with over 20 organizations, hosted a Baby Shower Resource Fair at Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn. Expecting and pregnant NYCHA residents from across the city received baby and child supplies such as diapers, blankets, books, baby bouncers, pajamas, stuffed animals, baby bags, medicine kits, gift cards, baby… MORE

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Presenting NYCHA’s Decarbonization Efforts

Two NYCHA leaders – Vice President for Energy and Sustainability Vlada Kenniff and Acting Deputy Director of Energy and Sustainability Edwin Mendez – discussed the Authority’s work on decarbonization and sustainability at two notable public events recently.  Edwin Mendez attended the “AEG Thought Summit 2022: Critical Infrastructure, Equity and Resilience,” where he discussed NYCHA’s energy… MORE

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NYCHA’s Capital Projects Roundup: February

A variety of security-related upgrades were recently completed at all entrances and exits of NYCHA’s Johnson Houses in Manhattan.  The Capital Projects Division (CPD) marked the completion of the nearly $3.5 million improvement project on February 28.   CPD oversees more than $1 billion in construction projects across the Authority’s portfolio that are funded with federal,… MORE

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Mayor Adams Meets with NYCHA Staff in First Visit to Emergency Operations Center

Mayor Eric Adams visited NYCHA’s Emergency Operations Center in Long Island City on March 1 to get updates on heating systems and various infrastructure needs across the Authority.  In his first visit to the emergency center since taking office, the Mayor met with NYCHA leaders and operations staff, including Chair and Chief Executive Officer Greg… MORE

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PACT Partners to Provide $360M in Comprehensive Repairs for Reid Apartments and Park Rock Consolidated

Over 3,600 residents will receive renovated apartments, building infrastructure upgrades, and redesigned public spaces A team with several New York-based MBEs and the Local Development Corporation of East New York will guide the scope of repairs and coordinate social services On March 2, NYCHA formally announced the selection of BRP Companies, Urbane, and Fairstead as… MORE

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Meet Ukah Busgith

Women’s History Month: Providing Healing, Promoting Hope  For more than 30 years, Ukah Busgith has made it her mission to help improve the quality of life for NYCHA residents – whether through enrichment programs for young people, managing arts and garden programs, overseeing community centers, or connecting residents to the activities, programs, and social services… MORE

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The Pandemic & Beyond: The Future of Racial Inclusion & Equity in New York City

In 2020, amid a global pandemic and nationwide civil rights protests, the City launched the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity to address racial and economic disparities that were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic in Black communities and other communities of color. The Taskforce strives to improve outcomes by transforming policies, programs, and systems throughout… MORE

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NYCHA NAACP Branch’s Black Health and Wellness Event

On February 23, NYCHA’s branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted an event focused on Black health and wellness as part of their Black History Month celebrations. The event was held at NYCHA’s offices at 1200 Waters Place in the Bronx. Guest speakers included Chief Operating Officer Daniel Sherrod;… MORE

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Chair Russ Participates in Future of Construction Summit

On February 24, NYCHA’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer Greg Russ participated in a virtual panel discussion organized by “City and State,” a media organization covering New York’s local and state politics and policy. The event, titled “Future of Construction in New York,” was moderated by Deputy State Politics Reporter Rebecca Lewis. The panel consisted… MORE

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Meet NYCHA Change Ambassador Albert Freeman

When speaking to issues of change at NYCHA, Albert Freeman can draw from his extensive experience as both an employee and former resident.  After growing up at Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn, Mr. Freeman joined the NYCHA workforce 32 years ago thanks to a program from the nonprofit Grand St. Settlement. He has served for more than a decade… MORE

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NYCHA and HDC Finalize Deal to Begin $236 Million Renovation at Harlem River

On February 17, NYCHA and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) closed on the financing of the latest Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) transaction to fund comprehensive renovations for 690 apartments (as well as the construction of three apartments) at Harlem River Houses and the adjoining Harlem River II campus. This latest conversion… MORE

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NYCHA, City Tech Program Brings Urban Design Case Study to Washington Houses

Nurturing their passion for the fields of architecture and urban design, a group of young NYCHA residents looked to the campus of Manhattan’s Washington Houses for some inspiration.   The young adults were part of the second cohort of ARCscholars, a seven-week virtual youth leadership program funded by the Fund for Public Housing. ARCscholars pairs NYCHA residents with architecture students from CUNY’s New York City College of… MORE

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NYCHA Establishes PACT Resource Team to Facilitate Resident Involvement in PACT

NYCHA has partnered with local organizations to launch the new PACT Resource Team. The team is currently recruiting technical advisors who will consult with and support residents in developments selected for PACT (the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together program). NYCHA’s partners in the initiative include Local Initiatives Support Corporation New York City (LISC NYC), Public Works… MORE

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