The Rise of the NYCHA STAT Data Portal
NYCHA Performance Management Manager Ryan Shanley and the team he leads within the Performance Management and Analytics (PMA) division are justifiably proud of PMA’s game-changing NYCHA STAT Data Portal, a resource that has been in development for several years and has recently gained wider recognition as a vital step forward in the Authority’s approach to data management.
In an era where data-driven decision-making is crucial for effective management, NYCHA is stepping up its game with the launch of its NYCHA STAT Data Portal. This innovative tool centralizes various data streams, making them easily accessible to staff at all levels. The portal addresses long-standing challenges of siloed reporting and enhances operational transparency through nearly real-time data access. By fostering collaboration and user-friendly design, the NYCHA STAT Data Portal not only streamlines daily operations for property management teams but also supports the Authority’s broader mission of improving performance management and service delivery across the city. As the portal continues to evolve, it promises to be a cornerstone in NYCHA’s ongoing efforts to empower employees with actionable insights.
This dashboard is updated daily, providing a breakdown of NYCHA apartments by status while also
tracking progress on vacant apartment turnover and move-ins.
Mr. Shanley’s enthusiasm was evident as he shared the story of the portal’s birth and development as well as the increasing impact it is having for NYCHA staffers and their work at every level. He began by outlining the context that led to the creation of the new tool: “Before our team was formed, reporting was mostly centralized and often siloed. We knew we had to think critically about how NYCHA works with data to ensure that everyone would be on the same page.” For example, the Performance Tracking and Analytics Department (PTAD) dashboard – the predecessor of the NYCHA STAT Data Portal – lacked strong visualization tools. The team made a critical choice to use a different software system for NYCHA STAT which enables reports to be created much more quickly and flexibly.
The impetus for such improvements is rooted in the Authority’s Transformation Plan goals to enhance performance management and data accessibility. Specifically, that involves:
- Expansion of the NYCHA STAT Meeting Series: Inspired in part by the NYPD’s COMP STAT, in 2001 NYCHA established a monthly meeting for leadership to review key performance indicators (KPI). In more recent years, this also gave birth to a program known as “Borough STAT,” where Operations staff meet with leadership to discuss trends at a more local level and address those challenges based on data.
- Holistic Data Management: The PMA/PTAD team envisioned a comprehensive data portal that would provide accessible insights and recommendations from unified sources of data.
With their emerging vision for improved data accessibility for everyone at NYCHA, Mr. Shanley and his team began developing what today has become the NYCHA STAT Data Portal, a comprehensive resource that consolidates NYCHA’s various data streams. “The portal has been evolving for a couple of years now,” Mr. Shanley said. “Initially, it served a more limited purpose, but recently it has grown into a truly robust information clearinghouse.”
As the project advanced, Mr. Shanley and his PMA/PTAD teammates Jaclyn Williams and Victoria Jimenez recognized the need for user-friendliness. “We wanted to make it easy for staff at all levels to access the data they need without getting lost in complex dashboards,” he said. The tool that they built, which is accessible via the NYCHA Connect website, offers a range of useful tools for property management staff, including managers and superintendents, all through a single web portal: NYCHA STAT Data Portal – Home.
One of the outstanding features of the portal is its nearly real-time data access. “I can see the status of vacant units at any development – I can even check to see if there are prep tickets for inspections,” Mr. Shanley said, demonstrating how front-line staff use the portal to manage their daily tasks more efficiently. This functionality represents a significant improvement over what was previously possible, when accessing relevant data often required navigating multiple systems and databases. “In the past, people might have had to use Maximo to look up what they needed, which could be slow and cumbersome,” he explained. “Now, with just a few clicks, they can get the information they need immediately.”
“The Data Portal pulls together many fantastic reports into one place,” said NYCHA’s Chief of Staff Andrew Kaplan. “I use the Rent Collection Report and Vacancy Tracker often in my work as Chief of Staff, and these tools help NYCHA make better, more data-driven decisions.”
This data tool provides Operations staff with a daily snapshot of pending work orders at their location, across an assortment of priority topics.
“I can’t say enough good things about the new data portal!” said Erenisse Tavarez, NYCHA’s Vice President for Public Housing Operations in Manhattan. “The portal and the tools that came with it have been incredibly valuable. It’s so user-friendly, and it brings together several systems that I and my Operations colleagues rely on every day into one centralized location – Maximo, Siebel, data warehouse, TDS, and so on. It saves supervisors and staff so much time, by streamlining our processes, and at the same time it offers borough managers a comprehensive view of their portfolios for better oversight. I love it! This system was clearly developed with end users like me and my team in mind. Congratulations as well as our sincere thanks to the PTAD team for providing us with this user-friendly system.”
Feedback from front-line staff has been instrumental in shaping the portal’s features, ensuring it is a valuable tool for those who use it on a daily basis.
“Property Management Operations uses this new data portal every day to track various key areas,” Executive Vice President of Property Management Operations Dan Greene said. “We greatly appreciate the work by the PTAD team to shape these dashboards around current operational needs.”
Aware that transitioning to a new system can be challenging, Mr. Shanley and his team are also committed to supporting users as they make the move. “We’ve set up monthly demonstration sessions to help staff familiarize themselves with the portal,” Mr. Shanley said. These sessions serve as an opportunity for users to ask questions, learn how to navigate the portal, and provide feedback on their experiences.
Looking to the future, Mr. Shanley and his colleagues are eager to expand the capabilities of the Data Portal while ensuring everyone at the Authority can benefit from it: “We want this portal to become a one-stop shop for all NYCHA data. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive resource that empowers everyone from front-line staff to upper management. We’re here to support everyone at NYCHA as they learn to use this tool. This project isn’t just about collecting data; it’s about making that data accessible and actionable for everybody!”
