NYCHA Staff Improve Inspection Scores
NYCHA’s Operations team has been very hard at work over the last year getting ready for the rollout of new inspection standards that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) implemented for public housing authorities. The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), which was unveiled in July 2023, marks the first time in over 20 years that HUD has updated the standards. This new model prioritizes residents’ health and safety by better assessing the true conditions of properties. NSPIRE also aligns with NYCHA’s current practice to conduct 100 percent of annual apartment inspections and improve year-round maintenance with an apartment-focused approach – all to better serve the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who call NYCHA home.
Operations staff received in-depth training on NSPIRE starting in October 2023 to help prepare them for these rigorous multiday inspections. Inspections began in January 2024, and almost all developments have completed their 2024 NSPIRE inspection. NSPIRE scores can range from 0 to 100, and 60 is passing.
Operations’ ongoing efforts and commitment to improving daily maintenance is reflected in the tremendous rise in inspection scores in each borough, from an average score of 35 in 2022/2023 to 63 in 2024. HUD has acknowledged this marked improvement, which will be positively reflected in the overall HUD rating for NYCHA.
In Queens/Staten Island, the following developments received great NSPIRE scores:
- Latimer Gardens – 93
- Woodside – 90
- South Jamaica – 87
- Hammel/Carlton Manor – 87
- Redfern – 86
- Berry/Todt Hill – 84
In Brooklyn, the following developments received great NSPIRE scores:
- Glenwood – 89
- Gowanus – 86
- Hylan – 86
- Taylor-Wythe – 84
- Cooper Park – 83
- Carey Gardens/Coney Island/Haber – 81
- Hughes/Woodson/Van Dyke – 80
In the Bronx, the following developments received great NSPIRE scores:
- Marble Hill – 83
- Soundview – 82
In Manhattan, the following developments received great NSPIRE scores:
- Wald Houses – 88
- Carver – 84
- Straus – 81
- Amsterdam/Harborview – 81
- Isaacs/Holmes Towers/Robbins Plaza – 80
- Johnson – 80
Properties that receive scores of 90 or higher are designated by HUD as Standard 1 performing properties and will undergo inspections once every three years. Properties that receive scores of 80 to 89 are designated by HUD as Standard 2 performing properties and will undergo inspections every two years. Based on these great scores, 25 properties will not have an NSPIRE inspection next year. There were also numerous properties that increased their scores dramatically this year, scoring in the 70 to 60 range.
As they gear up for the 2025 NSPIRE inspections, Operations will continue to focus on year-round maintenance and repairs inside residents’ apartments, and inside and outside of buildings. They will prioritize health and safety issues to improve habitability and quality of life for residents, which will result in better performance assessments from HUD and drive NYCHA’s transformation efforts.
Starting in 2024, Operations increased the rate of annual apartment inspections to 100 percent, effectively doubling the number of inspections conducted in previous years. The maintenance staff that performs these inspections has completed over 75 percent of inspections to date. This includes performing on-the-spot minor repairs in residents’ apartments, increasing the efficiency of repairs completion and fostering convenience for residents.
In 2024, Operations has also significantly improved compliance with monthly supervisory buildings and adjacent grounds inspections – from approximately 40 percent to 80 percent; these inspections ensure our buildings and grounds are in good condition.
All these collective efforts increase compliance, enhance our communities, and improve the quality of life for residents. Kudos to all the NYCHA staff involved for their contributions.
