NYCHA Now

Blueprint for Change

Blueprint for ChangeMarch 2022
Vincent Echavaria

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

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Transform NYCHA
Blueprint for ChangeOctober 2021
Michael Corwin

Improving the Repair Process

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce exciting changes at NYCHA: We are rolling out a new repair process, starting with Queens and Staten Island. This project primarily impacts Maintenance Workers, Skilled Trades, and Planners. Lengthy unfinished work orders are a challenge for NYCHA residents and employees alike. Residents are often frustrated with the delays… Continue Reading Improving the Repair Process

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NY Construction & Design Virtual Panel
Blueprint for ChangeSeptember 2021
Michael Corwin

NYCHA Chair Russ Discusses Housing Preservation at Panel

On September 15, NYCHA’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer Gregory 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 “Design & Construction in a Post-Pandemic Era,” was moderated by former Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, from Ichor… Continue Reading NYCHA Chair Russ Discusses Housing Preservation at Panel

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Text: First Members of NYCHA's Resident Roundtable Announced
Blueprint for ChangeJune 2021
Latoya Jordan

First Members of Resident Roundtable Announced

Thirty-two NYCHA residents were recently chosen as the first members of the Resident Roundtable, a new committee that ensures residents continue to play an important role in NYCHA’s Transformation Plan, where they will provide valuable feedback and recommendations to implement the plan.  The Citywide Council of Presidents (CCOP), the official citywide NYCHA resident organization, appointed five residents to the Roundtable and the remaining positions… Continue Reading First Members of Resident Roundtable Announced

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New annual recertificaiton portal
Blueprint for ChangeJune 2021
Vincent Echavaria

Redesigned Annual Recertification Portal Opens for All NYCHA Residents

NYCHA has unveiled across its portfolio a more efficient, user-friendly redesign of the online portal that residents access to complete their Annual Recertification.   The revamped system is among a number of key measures implemented by the Authority as it seeks to improve how services are delivered to residents as part of the Blueprint for Change Transformation Plan. NYCHA… Continue Reading Redesigned Annual Recertification Portal Opens for All NYCHA Residents

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A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for ChangeMay 2021
Michael Corwin

Get Key Details about NYCHA’s Blueprint for Change

A Blueprint for Change is a set of proposals for how NYCHA will strengthen as an organization and improve the quality of life for residents through top-to-bottom building renovations. Blueprint includes a Transformation Plan: potential strategies for restructuring NYCHA’s business model and operations to improve the delivery of services to residents. Blueprint also includes a… Continue Reading Get Key Details about NYCHA’s Blueprint for Change

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Transform NYCHA
April 2021Blueprint for Change
Michael Corwin

Changes to Empower NYCHA’s Board & Strengthen Oversight

Dear Colleagues,  We are pleased to announce that at its April 28 meeting, NYCHA’s Board approved changes that strengthen the management of our organization. These improvements are part of NYCHA’s Transformation Plan, which outlines how the Authority will become a stronger organization and better serve residents.   Specifically, new Board Committees were created so that… Continue Reading Changes to Empower NYCHA’s Board & Strengthen Oversight

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Chair Russ PACT
Blueprint for ChangeMarch 2021
Vincent Echavaria

Chair Russ’s Record of Success in Renovating Residents’ Homes

Public housing across the nation is getting revitalized thanks to creative housing preservation programs like the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), which converts developments from Section 9 public housing funding to project-based Section 8 funding (a form of Section 8 that provides enhanced protections for residents). This enables public housing authorities to raise significant amounts of funding to repair and upgrade their properties.  At the same time, RAD ensures that homes remain permanently affordable… Continue Reading Chair Russ’s Record of Success in Renovating Residents’ Homes

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New annual recertificaiton portal
Blueprint for ChangeMarch 2021
Michael Corwin

NYCHA Improves Design of Annual Recertification Portal

As part of its Transformation Plan to become a better and more responsive organization, NYCHA recently released a redesign of the online portal that residents use to complete their Annual Recertification. The new portal represents what Lakesha Miller, Executive Vice President for Leased Housing, calls a “win-win” for NYCHA and residents: “Resolving and eliminating hurdles… Continue Reading NYCHA Improves Design of Annual Recertification Portal

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Transform NYCHA
Blueprint for ChangeMarch 2021
Michael Corwin

NYCHA’s Transformation Plan Released

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the release of NYCHA’s Transformation Plan. Developed as part of NYCHA’s 2019 agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Transformation Plan outlines various ways that the Authority will become a stronger organization and better serve residents. The plan was released today with the… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Transformation Plan Released

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Neighborhood Model map
Blueprint for ChangeMarch 2021
Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA’s Neighborhood Model Restructures Operations to Improve Service Delivery

NYCHA is improving service to residents through its Blueprint for Change Transformation Plan.   A key initiative of this Transformation Plan is a restructuring of the Authority’s property management operations known as the Neighborhood Model. Through this model, NYCHA aims to address various operational challenges that arise as a result of the large scale of the organization, which manages nearly 173,000 apartments in 316 developments… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Neighborhood Model Restructures Operations to Improve Service Delivery

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Blueprint for ChangeMarch 2021
Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA Seeks Community Partners to Join PACT Program

On February 23, 2021, NYCHA announced the re-release of the PACT Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit prospective rehabilitation partners. The RFQ supports the Authority’s aim to undertake the largest Section 8 conversion program in the country through NYCHA’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) initiative. The PACT RFQ enables NYCHA to streamline the PACT procurement process by… Continue Reading NYCHA Seeks Community Partners to Join PACT Program

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Baychester Building Entrance After
Blueprint for ChangeFebruary 2021
Michael Corwin

NYCHA 2.0 PACT Program Brings $261M in Renovations to 3 Developments

NYCHA and the New York City Housing Development Corporation announced the completion of two major rehabilitation efforts: first, Baychester and Murphy Houses by Camber Property Group, L+M Development Partners, and MBD Community Housing Corporation; second, Betances Houses by RDC, a joint venture between MDG Design + Construction and Wavecrest Management. Both located in the Bronx,… Continue Reading NYCHA 2.0 PACT Program Brings $261M in Renovations to 3 Developments

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Blueprint for ChangeFebruary 2021
Vincent Echavaria

Chair Russ’s Record of Success in Rehabilitating Residents’ Homes

NYCHA Chair Greg Russ knows that improving and preserving NYCHA’s aging buildings through PACT and Blueprint for Change aren’t risks for residents but instead bring great benefits. That’s because his efforts as head of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority – his previous position – are bringing beautiful, modern apartments to residents there.  A recent article in the Star Tribune describes how the federal… Continue Reading Chair Russ’s Record of Success in Rehabilitating Residents’ Homes

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A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for ChangeFebruary 2021
Michael Corwin

A Blueprint for Change in the News

On July 28, NYCHA Chair and CEO Greg Russ introduced A Blueprint for Change, a set of ideas that outlines potential pathways for the Authority’s reorganization and investing of capital to stabilize and improve its properties, with additional impacts that could drive jobs and recovery strategies. Several media outlets, elected officials, housing professionals, and advocates have reported on… Continue Reading A Blueprint for Change in the News

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Blueprint for ChangeJanuary 2021
Vincent Echavaria

Progress on NYCHA’s PACT Program

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… Continue Reading Progress on NYCHA’s PACT Program

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A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for ChangeDecember 2020
Latoya Jordan

Residents and Stakeholders Provide Comments on NYCHA’s Transformation Plan

Dear Colleagues, This week, the public comment period for NYCHA’s draft Transformation Plan closed. We received more than 300 comments from residents, employees, and other stakeholders on how to comprehensively restructure NYCHA. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to using these comments to help shape the Transformation Plan moving forward. As part of the 2019 HUD Agreement, the Transformation Plan… Continue Reading Residents and Stakeholders Provide Comments on NYCHA’s Transformation Plan

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Blueprint for ChangeDecember 2020
Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA’s Skilled Trades Pilot Increases Productivity by 18%

NYCHA’s Skilled Trades Pilot Program, developed as part of the Authority’s Blueprint for Change’s Transformation Plan, is already transforming how NYCHA operates. Since its implementation on October 26, overall productivity has increased by 18 percent for maintenance and skilled trades repairs.  The program focuses on decentralizing the skilled trades, which includes staff who make apartment repairs, such as painters, plasterers, carpenters, plumbers and electricians, and changing the work order system, so staff have… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Skilled Trades Pilot Increases Productivity by 18%

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Blueprint for ChangeDecember 2020
Vincent Echavaria

‘Ambassadors’ Join Employee Network to Support Change at NYCHA

A force of hundreds of staff from across the Authority is now working with their colleagues to share news about the organization’s plan for the future and help ensure that various issues are resolved for the NYCHA community.    Known as Change Ambassadors, these employees have committed to a voluntary role to support the Change Network under NYCHA’s Transformation Plan. As NYCHA implements its Blueprint… Continue Reading ‘Ambassadors’ Join Employee Network to Support Change at NYCHA

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A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for ChangeDecember 2020
Michael Corwin

NYCHA Chair Russ Discusses “Blueprint for Change” with the State Assembly

On December 8, NYCHA Chair & CEO Greg Russ testified before the New York State Assembly about legislation that would establish a Public Trust as part of NYCHA’s recapitalization strategy for upgrading 110,000 apartments. The Public Trust, an innovative solution to raise much-needed capital funding, would enable NYCHA to access valuable federal vouchers, have flexible… Continue Reading NYCHA Chair Russ Discusses “Blueprint for Change” with the State Assembly

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Blueprint for ChangeDecember 2020
Vincent Echavaria

Boiler System Upgrades on Track for Winter Debut

New heating system upgrades are nearly complete for NYCHA residents living at two Brooklyn developments and one property in Manhattan.   All new equipment has been installed and is awaiting final testing for boiler replacement projects at Fiorentino Plaza and Long Island Baptist Houses in Brooklyn as well as Robinson Houses in Harlem. All three projects are more than 90 percent complete and are… Continue Reading Boiler System Upgrades on Track for Winter Debut

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Blueprint for ChangeDecember 2020
Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA Closes $271  Million PACT Deal to Renovate 16 Sites

More Than  2,900 Manhattan Residents to Benefit On November 30, NYCHA  announced a Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) deal with PACT Renaissance Collaborative (PRC) to provide more than $271  million in major repairs and renovations for  1,718  NYCHA apartments throughout  Manhattan.  The money will be used to modernize apartments and buildings at each of the 16 selected sites, while also providing residents with access to employment opportunities affiliated with… Continue Reading NYCHA Closes $271  Million PACT Deal to Renovate 16 Sites

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Blueprint for ChangeNovember 2020
Vincent Echavaria

Skilled Trades, Work Order Reform Pilot Underway in Queens

NYCHA residents at four Queens developments may start to notice faster repairs and fewer delays with skilled maintenance jobs, as well as a more efficient work order process, under a new pilot program that has taken effect in the community.   The Authority’s Skilled Trades Pilot Program – which launched in late October at Astoria Houses, Ravenswood Houses,… Continue Reading Skilled Trades, Work Order Reform Pilot Underway in Queens

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A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for ChangeNovember 2020
Michael Corwin

Comment on NYCHA’s Transformation Plan

Dear Colleagues, Over the last few weeks, many of you joined staff town halls to learn about NYCHA’s Transformation Plan — our plan to comprehensively reform how NYCHA does business to better serve our residents, employees, and the city. A recording from the town hall along with other information about the Transformation Plan are now… Continue Reading Comment on NYCHA’s Transformation Plan

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A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for ChangeNovember 2020
Michael Corwin

Update on “A Blueprint for Change”

Dear Colleagues,  This summer we launched A Blueprint for Change, a set of ideas and proposed strategies for how we can transform, stabilize, and preserve NYCHA so that it can serve the generations to come.  Blueprint endeavors to invest in our organization, our buildings, and our residents through three approaches:  A Transformation Plan that will… Continue Reading Update on “A Blueprint for Change”

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Property Management Case Study Workshop
Blueprint for ChangeOctober 2020
Michael Corwin

Working Together to Transform NYCHA

Engaging Staff and Other Stakeholders As part of the HUD Agreement signed last year, NYCHA has been working on its Transformation Plan to change how it delivers services to residents. In order to do that, NYCHA needs to re-structure its organization, its management, and its workforce, while ensuring that stakeholder input is front and center… Continue Reading Working Together to Transform NYCHA

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A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for ChangeSeptember 2020
Michael Corwin

Learn More About NYCHA’s “A Blueprint for Change” Ideas

Dear Colleagues, This summer,  NYCHA released A Blueprint for Change, a set of ideas for improving residents’ home while protecting their rights. At the core of this work are NYCHA’s efforts to deliver better services to residents in a range of critical areas, transform as an organization, and bring our buildings the capital investment they… Continue Reading Learn More About NYCHA’s “A Blueprint for Change” Ideas

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News from the Chair and GM
Blueprint for ChangeJuly 2020
Michael Corwin

Transforming NYCHA: New Staff Appointments and New Departments

Dear Colleagues, As part of our ongoing work to transform the structure and business operations of the Authority, we are pleased to announce new staff appointments in NYCHA’s Department of Operations. We are committed to improving NYCHA operations and services for our residents. Therefore, we have implemented three new departments reporting to the General Manager… Continue Reading Transforming NYCHA: New Staff Appointments and New Departments

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