NYCHA Now

NYCHANow chronicles the hard work of the men and women who make the New York City Housing Authority run, reporting the latest news and happenings.

NYCHA Now
Blueprint for Change January 2021 

Progress on NYCHA’s PACT Program

Vincent Echavaria

To date, more than 7,500 NYCHA residents have benefitted from major building improvements, facade upgrades, and apartment renovations completed since 2016. The work was accomplished as part of the Authority’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, which is a key component of the NYCHA 2.0 strategy to repair and preserve over 62,000 apartments while safeguarding resident rights and protections (learn more about NYCHA 2.0 here).

So far, more than 9,500 apartments are in construction or have been renovated through PACT at 50 NYCHA developments across the city. Another nearly 12,000 apartments at 35 additional sites are slated for comprehensive repairs and upgrades, including at Edenwald Houses in the Bronx and Williamsburg Houses and Linden Houses in Brooklyn.

“NYCHA is fully committed to improving and stabilizing a critical source of affordable housing in New York City; making investments that support resident health and prosperity; and engaging more deeply with our communities in planning for the future,” said NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Real Estate Development Jonathan Gouveia. “The progress we’ve made under the PACT program puts us on a clear pathway to achieving those goals.” 

This past November, NYCHA finalized an agreement with the PACT Renaissance Collaborative to oversee apartment and building system upgrades for 16 NYCHA sites in Manhattan, totaling $383 million in capital repairs. That agreement followed an agreement with the Brooklyn Housing Preservation Experience in February 2020 to handle large-scale construction upgrades at nine sites in Brooklyn, totaling $434 million in capital repairs. 

Through PACT, developments convert to Project-Based Section 8 and the buildings will be managed by the PACT partners. However, NYCHA retains ownership of the buildings and land, and will ensure that the Partners adhere to standards outlined by a set of Guiding Principles to guarantee customer service and tenant protections for all residents, including the following:

  • Rent remains capped at 30 percent of household income;
  • Residents continue to have succession rights;
  • Residents and tenant associations continue to have the right to organize and receive funding; and
  • Residents will not be re-screened before signing a new Section 8 lease – which means that so long as a household is in good standing, it can transition to Section 8 regardless of income or family composition.

NYCHA works closely with its PACT development partners and residents to craft comprehensive rehabilitation plans that address:

  • Building systems, such as elevators, boilers, roofs, windows, and facades;
  • Grounds, including landscaping, lighting, security, and playgrounds and public spaces;
  • Common areas, including lobbies, hallways, stairwells, and community spaces; and
  • Resident apartments, where kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring are all typically replaced, among other improvements.

PACT is not privatization or a path toward it. Once properties convert to Project-Based Section 8, NYCHA leases the land and buildings to the development partners, who make repairs and serve as the property manager. NYCHA continues to own the land and buildings converted through PACT, and all apartments continue to be subsidized through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). NYCHA also continues to monitor conditions at the developments to ensure developers adhere to their obligations to residents, and NYCHA monitors the quality of ongoing maintenance and the scope of construction.  

Each PACT conversion involves a robust resident engagement process where NYCHA organizes a series of meetings with residents to provide an overview of the program and directly answer questions. The PACT Partners also host resident meetings to incorporate their priorities and requests, so improvements are tailored to community needs. Residents maintain succession rights, tenant organizing rights, and the right to a grievance hearing – and can request legal consultation to further understand the impact of a conversion on their household.  

For more information about upcoming PACT meetings, residents can call NYCHA at (212) 306-4036 or email PACT@nycha.nyc.gov. 

Details on the status of PACT projects and other information is available at on.nyc.gov/nycha-pact.