NYCHA Now

Author: Michael Corwin

Employee VoicesJuly 2018

Community Conversations on Smoke-Free NYCHA

If you haven’t already heard, all public housing across the country—including NYCHA homes—will go smoke-free as of July 30, 2018, following a requirement from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Smoke-Free NYCHA is designed to create healthier homes for residents and healthier working environments for employees by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. The program… Continue Reading Community Conversations on Smoke-Free NYCHA

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June 2018

“Serving Our Residents Is Our Mantra”

On June 1, his first day at the Authority, Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff dropped in on the brand-new “Exceptional Customer Service” training class at 250 Broadway. The daylong training provides regional asset managers, directors, housing managers, assistant managers, and caretakers with tools to enhance their interactions with residents as well as an opportunity… Continue Reading “Serving Our Residents Is Our Mantra”

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June 2018

Props to the Riis Houses Grounds Crew

Riis Houses’ Supervising Housing Groundskeeper Shawn Collymore would like to give a shout-out to his grounds crew at the Manhattan development: “This picture pretty much sums up how we value each other’s abilities here at Riis. We collaborate as a unit, working together on our strengths, communicating effectively to get our daily assignments done. The… Continue Reading Props to the Riis Houses Grounds Crew

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June 2018

Honoring the Heritage of Ethiopian Jews

Batei Tsibur, NYCHA’s organization of Jewish employees, held its annual Jewish Heritage Celebration on May 23 at the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room. This year’s event recognized the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the modern State of Israel and the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Participants learned about an incredible piece of… Continue Reading Honoring the Heritage of Ethiopian Jews

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HighlightedJune 2018

Learning to Move Mountains

Through day-long, weekly workshops each spring, the City’s Management Academy helps new and emerging leaders in city government become better managers. NYCHANow spoke with a recent graduate, Alex Mathew, Deputy Director in the Leased Housing Department, about his experience in the program. Why did you decide to participate in the Management Academy? I first learned… Continue Reading Learning to Move Mountains

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HighlightedJune 2018

REES Zone Coordinator Honored for Service to the Community

Evelyn Melendez was born and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, one of the neighborhoods she serves as a REES Zone Coordinator (the others are Bed-Stuy and Bushwick). She connects residents of 30 developments to partner organizations in their communities, enabling residents to pursue careers and empower themselves and their families economically.   Her dedicated service has not… Continue Reading REES Zone Coordinator Honored for Service to the Community

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May 2018

Better Living Through Technology

Residents in several Manhattan and Brooklyn developments will benefit from new high-tech innovations designed to enhance their health and quality of life through improved maintenance and operations. Three companies – winners of NYCHA’s Tech Pilots competition – are each developing a program under the guidance of Capital Projects’ Energy and Sustainability Department in partnership with… Continue Reading Better Living Through Technology

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May 2018

High Tech at Your Fingertips

The IT Department recently finished installing 5,700 new desktop computers for all NYCHA computer users. The rollout, which began at developments and concluded at the central offices, provides every computer user with upgraded technology and features. The Dell machines are outfitted with the latest Microsoft software, including Windows 10 and Office 365 programs like Word,… Continue Reading High Tech at Your Fingertips

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May 2018

Residents Can Apply Now for the NYCHA-CUNY Scholarships!

NYCHA offers multiple scholarships to support our residents as they increase their income and assets through higher education. All scholarships award one-time $1,000 grants to eligible residents who are pursuing undergraduate degrees at a City University of New York (CUNY) college. NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship – for NYCHA residents who are full-time undergraduates at a CUNY… Continue Reading Residents Can Apply Now for the NYCHA-CUNY Scholarships!

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May 2018

Make a Difference in Your Workplace – Join the Employee Engagement Committee

Dear Colleagues, We have extended the deadline to apply to be a member of NYCHA’s Employee Engagement Committee (EEC). Applications are due by the close of business Friday, May 18, 2018. The EEC includes employees from all levels and titles throughout NYCHA. Its purpose is to develop plans that can help all NYCHA employees work… Continue Reading Make a Difference in Your Workplace – Join the Employee Engagement Committee

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May 2018

Employees: NYCHA’s Heart and Soul

Dear Colleagues, After a challenging couple of months and significant changes in leadership, many of you have shared your concerns and major apprehensions about the future with me. Please know, I’ve heard you and appreciate your honesty. There have been moments throughout NYCHA’s history that have tested the resiliency of this organization. Every time, our… Continue Reading Employees: NYCHA’s Heart and Soul

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May 2018

A WIN for Former Chair Olatoye

NYCHA’s branch of the NAACP presented former Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye with the association’s first WIN (“Women in NAACP/Women in Non-traditional Jobs”) leadership award on April 25. Branch President Lynn Spivey thanked Ms. Olatoye for her “outstanding performance and unparalleled leadership,” highlighting several of her accomplishments that align with the NAACP’s vision, including increased… Continue Reading A WIN for Former Chair Olatoye

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April 2018

Electrical Connections

Nine NYCHA residents recently became members of Local Union 3 IBEW, the electrical workers’ union, with help from a new NYCHA partnership. Constellation NewEnergy, a NYCHA Energy Performance Contracts partner, worked with the Authority to offer an eight-week academic preparation course to prepare residents to take the competitive Local 3 aptitude test. The company partnered with… Continue Reading Electrical Connections

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April 2018

The Fair Housing Act: 50 Years of Progress and Setbacks

April 11 marked the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which made it illegal to deny any individual housing based on a person’s skin color, religion, or country of origin, protecting marginalized groups from discrimination in the housing market and providing them with equal opportunity to rent or purchase homes. Upon signing the act… Continue Reading The Fair Housing Act: 50 Years of Progress and Setbacks

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April 2018Highlighted

Erenisse Tavarez: NYCHA’s First Women’s History Month Awardee

Erenisse Tavarez, Acting Senior Vice President for Operations, was honored as the first-ever recipient of NYCHA’s Women’s History Month award. Chair Shola Olatoye presented the award to Ms. Tavarez along with a proclamation of gratitude from Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Public Housing. “We are so honored to thank you… Continue Reading Erenisse Tavarez: NYCHA’s First Women’s History Month Awardee

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April 2018

Celebrating the Employees Who Support NYCHA’s Families

On March 29, the Family Partnerships Department honored NYCHA’s social workers during a lively National Social Work Month breakfast celebration at the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room. This year’s national theme – “Social Workers: Leaders, Advocates, Champions” – reflects NYCHA’s core values and the roles that the Authority’s social workers inhabit on a daily basis.… Continue Reading Celebrating the Employees Who Support NYCHA’s Families

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April 2018

Reuniting Families, Reigniting Hope

It was a celebration without titles and status, focused on families and second chances. On March 22, families, participants, and partners gathered to applaud the success of NYCHA’s Family Re-entry Program. Launched in November 2013, the Family Re-entry Program (FRP) enables people who have been recently released from incarceration to live with their families in… Continue Reading Reuniting Families, Reigniting Hope

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March 2018

Cathy Pennington Appointed EVP of Operations

Cathy Pennington has been appointed Executive Vice President (EVP) of Operations. In this role, Cathy will oversee the activities of the Operations Division, comprised of approximately 8,700 staff in three divisions: Property Management, Support Services, and the NextGeneration Operations (NGO) Department. Cathy has served as Acting EVP of Operations since December 2017. She first joined… Continue Reading Cathy Pennington Appointed EVP of Operations

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March 2018News to Use

Free Tax Prep for New Yorkers Earning $54,000 or Less

Many tax sites promise fast filing and instant refunds. Yet users often find that they are paying more than they thought for service and getting less in return. To ensure that you get the most from tax credits and refunds, NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) is once again offering the Virtual… Continue Reading Free Tax Prep for New Yorkers Earning $54,000 or Less

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March 2018

Read All About It: NYCHA Performance Stats Available in Real Time

NYCHA residents can use new digital tools on the NYCHA website to track NYCHA’s progress on repairs and construction. Outages Dashboard: The improved “Outages Dashboard,” which tracks heat and hot water outages, is automatically updated multiple times each day. Visitors to the site will now have the same information NYCHA has about when an outage… Continue Reading Read All About It: NYCHA Performance Stats Available in Real Time

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March 2018

Make a Difference in Your Workplace – Join the Employee Engagement Committee

We are excited to announce the application period for the second cohort of NYCHA’s Employee Engagement Committee (EEC). This is an opportunity for NYCHA employees from all titles to help your colleagues be productive and creative in their work; enhance their own professional development; and assist NYCHA in achieving its goal of preserving public housing… Continue Reading Make a Difference in Your Workplace – Join the Employee Engagement Committee

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March 2018

Major Study Finds Lighting Cut Crime by 39%

In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the New York City Police Department and the New York City Housing Authority, the scientific research team Crime Lab designed a six-month randomized controlled trial involving nearly 80 public housing developments, all of which had elevated levels of crime. About half of the developments received new,… Continue Reading Major Study Finds Lighting Cut Crime by 39%

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March 2018

Chair Olatoye’s Fourth Anniversary Tour

On March 2, Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye marked her fourth anniversary with NYCHA by spending the day meeting with staff and residents at a number of developments. Despite heavy rain and winds, Chair Olatoye met with residents and staff at Dyckman Houses in Manhattan, Ravenswood Houses in Queens, Sumner Houses in Brooklyn, and Middletown Plaza in… Continue Reading Chair Olatoye’s Fourth Anniversary Tour

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HighlightedMarch 2018

NYCHA Celebrates International Women’s Day

Dear Colleagues, Today is International Women’s Day, an annual commemoration to celebrate women’s accomplishments and bring worldwide attention to discrimination against women. NYCHA’s creation is in large part due to the work of larger-than-life women like Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of New York and then the United States, and Mary K. Simkhovitch, president of the… Continue Reading NYCHA Celebrates International Women’s Day

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March 2018

Black History Month Celebration Honors NYCHA Veterans

NYCHA celebrated Black History Month with a lively gathering in the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room on February 28. In recognition of this year’s national Black History Month theme of “African Americans in Times of War,” Chair Shola Olatoye acknowledged the veterans in attendance: “You represent not just NYCHA’s core values of collaboration and respect,… Continue Reading Black History Month Celebration Honors NYCHA Veterans

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March 2018

NextGen Neighborhoods Development at La Guardia Houses Moves Forward

NYCHA and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released a request asking developers to submit proposals for a new mixed-income building at La Guardia Houses. Half of the units in the building will be rented at market rates while the other half will be affordable housing. As part of the… Continue Reading NextGen Neighborhoods Development at La Guardia Houses Moves Forward

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Employee VoicesHighlightedMarch 2018

Spotlight on IT Department Employee Nina Winer

As a member of NYCHA’s IT Project Management Office, Nina Winer knows that information security is the responsibility of every single NYCHA employee. She strives to show employees how, through careful and intelligent use of technology, we can help safeguard NYCHA’s systems and data while fulfilling our mission of providing safe, clean, and connected housing… Continue Reading Spotlight on IT Department Employee Nina Winer

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February 2018

Celebrate Black History Month with Us!

Dear Colleagues, Black History Month is an opportunity to remember our past and celebrate our accomplishments. This history is all of our stories — hard work in the face of unimaginable obstacles, ordinary lives lived, and extraordinary achievements that continue to shape every aspect of the American experience. We need to look no further than… Continue Reading Celebrate Black History Month with Us!

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February 2018

Chair Olatoye’s Statement on the President’s Budget

“Public Housing is a critical resource which keeps New York City running by providing affordable homes for both the City’s public servants, like our nurses, teachers, and police officers, as well as seniors, veterans, and the disabled. No one should be displaced from their community because the federal government has turned its back on them,… Continue Reading Chair Olatoye’s Statement on the President’s Budget

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February 2018

PACT Bringing Major Renovations and Repairs for 1,700 Apartments

NYCHA has chosen three developers (see list below) to provide $300 million in repairs and renovations to 1,700 apartments at 17 developments in the Bronx and Brooklyn, improving quality of life for 4,000 residents by replacing elevators, boilers and heating systems, and renovating bathrooms and kitchens. Residents in these developments will see $316 million invested… Continue Reading PACT Bringing Major Renovations and Repairs for 1,700 Apartments

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February 2018

Apply Now for an Affordable Apartment in Harlem

Applications are being accepted now through April 6 for affordable apartments in a newly renovated building, Randolph Houses North, which was once part of the Authority’s Randolph Houses development. Through a partnership of NYCHA, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the NYC Housing Development Corporation, Trinity Financial, West Harlem Group Assistance, Red Stone… Continue Reading Apply Now for an Affordable Apartment in Harlem

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FeaturedFebruary 2018

Sterling Members of NYCHA’s Team

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… Continue Reading Sterling Members of NYCHA’s Team

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January 2018

NYCHA Is Hiring!

NYCHA is recruiting now for temporary and permanent positions at developments throughout the five boroughs. If you know anyone who might be interested, please have them call (212) 306-3922 or (212) 306-3608 to schedule an interview. Oil Burner Specialist (temporary position): Interested candidates may submit a cover letter and resume to www.nyc.gov/careers/search (search for JOB ID# 318197) Maintenance Worker… Continue Reading NYCHA Is Hiring!

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January 2018

NYCHA’s Youth Leaders Get Connected

Youth Leadership Council member Mya Pyle (at right in the photo above) receives a free tablet from Curtis Williams, Manager of NYCHA’s Resident Engagement Department. All 150 members of NYCHA’s 15 Youth Leadership Councils got free tablets courtesy of T-Mobile, NYCHA, and the City of New York that they can use for developing projects to help their communities. In 2016,… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Youth Leaders Get Connected

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January 2018

From Caretaker to Supervisor: An NRTA Success Story

Karen Callender never pictured herself in a career involving manual labor – but when she saw information about the NYCHA Resident Training Academy (NRTA) in The NYCHA Journal soon after her corporate office position of 14 years had been eliminated, she wanted to try something new. The NRTA, managed by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic… Continue Reading From Caretaker to Supervisor: An NRTA Success Story

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January 2018

The New Year Brings a New Senior Center to Red Hook

Red Hook East Houses residents Gertrude “Trudie” Holzendorf, 94, and Candida Delgado, 88, had been anxiously waiting for this moment for five years. On December 15, they got a sneak peek at the new Red Hook Senior Center; the former center had been destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The center officially opened for programming in January. Ms.… Continue Reading The New Year Brings a New Senior Center to Red Hook

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January 2018

First Class of Sandy Pre-Apprenticeship Program Graduates

Wyckoff Houses resident Alex Rodriguez wants to become an electrician and join a union. NYCHA’s Pathways to Apprenticeship helped him create a road map to reach that goal. On November 6, Mr. Rodriguez and 22 fellow NYCHA residents graduated from the first class of Pathways to Apprenticeship. The program, for NYCHA residents affected by Superstorm… Continue Reading First Class of Sandy Pre-Apprenticeship Program Graduates

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January 2018News to Use

Kickstart Your Career

Employees seeking a new position or promotion at NYCHA can now receive individualized career counseling from an HR expert. This new service, launched January 2, provides a one-on-one assessment session covering: civil service examinations; occupational groupings; civil service titles and classification; appointment status; training and development; and promotions and other advancement opportunities. Employees can also… Continue Reading Kickstart Your Career

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January 2018NYCHA 101

The Elected Officials’ Guide to NYCHA

NYCHA’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations (known as “Intergov”) acts as a liaison between the Authority and elected officials at all levels (city, state, and federal). The Intergov team works with elected officials to craft legislation, organize capital funding, and make sure their constituents have safe, clean, and connected homes. Intergov partners with a variety of… Continue Reading The Elected Officials’ Guide to NYCHA

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