2/8/23 update (COVID-19 Vaccination Now Optional for City Employees): Dear Colleagues, Due to the success of the City’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, over 331,000 City workers – more than 96 percent – are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. On February 6, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the City will make vaccination optional for current City employees and prospective… MORE
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Since April, NYCHA, in partnership with resident associations, has been distributing free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to NYCHA residents across the city. Each household is eligible to receive four tests (two test kits) along with two eight-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer. Over 600,000 test kits were provided to NYCHA by New York State for distribution.… MORE
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Attention NYCHA staff: Did you know that every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free and will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order them here: https://www.covidtests.gov/ As always, you can find an in-person COVID-19 testing site near you by visiting nyc.gov/covidtest or texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48.
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Marina Oteiza, Social Services Administrator in NYCHA’s Family Partnerships Department, was recognized by News 12 during the network’s Hispanic Heritage Month coverage for her work to connect NYCHA residents to COVID-19 vaccines. You can watch the segment here: And you can read more about Ms. Oteiza’s accomplishments at NYCHA here: https://nychanow.nyc/nycha-brings-vaccination-sites-to-residents/ https://nychanow.nyc/helping-feed-nycha-residents-during-covid-19/ https://nychanow.nyc/supporting-seniors-needs/ Photo caption:… MORE
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In mid-January, New Yorkers 65 and older became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. NYCHA’s population includes a large number of older adults, and the City and State established vaccine clinics at certain NYCHA developments to ensure that the vaccine was accessible to these residents. As more people became eligible, the clinics at NYCHA locations… MORE
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Since the start of the pandemic, New York City has provided hundreds of millions of free meals to anyone in need. These programs continue, whether through home delivery for people who cannot go out, or through Grab & Go options at approximately 200 Department of Education sites throughout the five boroughs. In addition, the City… MORE
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The pandemic may have temporarily forced them out of service, but NYCHA’s Digital Vans are now hitting the road again. And residents can feel safe to jump on board the free computer-labs-on-wheels, thanks to a variety of health and safety measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We realize our obligation to ensure the safety of our residents and staff… MORE
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Recently, Brandi Covington, her partner Corey Whittenburg, and their team spent the day visiting three NYCHA developments in Brooklyn to deliver meals to residents experiencing gas outages. Their largest location was Gowanus Houses: they knocked on the doors of 252 apartments to deliver 712 meals. Ms. Covington and Mr. Whittenburg are the owners behind catering… MORE
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Attention NYCHA residents: September 22 is Get Tested Tuesday! Get a COVID-19 test to protect yourself and your family. You should get tested even if you don’t have symptoms! Community organizations, resident leaders, NYCHA staff, and volunteers will be at over a dozen NYCHA developments across the city to encourage residents to get tested for COVID-19. … MORE
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We’ve been on the front lines keeping New York City safe, fed, healthy, housed, and protected from COVID-19. And now, we going to make sure our communities get the millions owed to us for education, housing, jobs, health care, and more. How? By filling out the census; do it today at my2020census.gov. Featured in this… MORE
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New York City continues to make progress during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now in Phase III of reopening. However, it’s still important for New Yorkers to be safe and cautious by practicing good hand hygiene, maintaining social distance, and wearing a mask or face covering that covers both the nose and mouth. NYCHA is helping ensure residents have the face coverings they need to keep themselves and their neighbors safe. On July 7, free masks were distributed to residents… MORE
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NYCHA’s Community Engagement & Partnerships Staff Make 100,000 COVID-19 Wellness Calls The dedicated and hardworking staff from NYCHA’s Community Engagement & Partnerships Department have made over 100,000 “wellness check” phone calls during the COVID-19 pandemic to date, resulting in nearly 60,000 personal conversations with our most vulnerable residents, including seniors, to make sure that they… MORE
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Anette Barry, Financial Officer of the Saint Mary’s Park Houses Tenant Council (pictured above), sent the below letter about Marcia Babb-Rhine, Administrative Manager in NYCHA’s Community Development Department, who is enrolling seniors in the GetFoodNYC program during the pandemic. Regarding her efforts, Ms. Babb-Rhine noted: “The seniors I enroll in the GetFoodNYC program are very… MORE
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New York Knick Taj Gibson grew up at Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn and has never forgotten the people or place that helped shape his childhood. In May, he went back to Ingersoll to acknowledge staff members —part of NYCHA’s team of 9,000 essential workers — for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his Taj Gibson Foundation, he provided them with free lunches as a thank you. “We thought it would be a… MORE
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NYCHA is working with a number of partners, including the Mayor’s Office and various government agencies, non-profits, elected officials, and resident associations, to ensure residents have the resources they need during the COVID-19 pandemic, including food, masks, and hand sanitizer. In mid-April, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office announced that all residents in NYCHA’s senior buildings would be enrolled in the City’s food delivery program… MORE
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Children across the city are adapting to a new normal brought about by COVID-19: online learning, closed playgrounds, and being indoors a lot more. Kings County Tennis League (KCTL), a non-profit that provides tennis and youth development to children living in and around NYCHA developments in Brooklyn, has been trying to provide its students with a sense of continuity and normalcy through virtual tennis sessions at home, as well as by making sure students’ families have the food and other resources they need during… MORE
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Thanks to a generous donation from the Shawn Carter Foundation and #startsmall, every household at Marcy, Sumner, and Tompkins Houses received a supermarket gift card to assist in purchasing the food they need. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardships for many New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents, and access to food has been the most basic necessity that… MORE
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Summer in New York City is going to be different this year. As the city begins slowly re-opening, we still need to wear face coverings, maintain social distancing, and practice good hand hygiene, though there are still many ways to have fun this summer. Here are some resources to help you have a safe and enjoyable summer. Recreation There are miles of city streets that are closed to through-traffic so that pedestrians, bicyclists,… MORE
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Some welcome news to children across the city: NYCHA playgrounds are now open again, per guidance from Mayor Bill de Blasio. To protect everyone’s health and safety, please keep these guidelines in mind when enjoying them: Wear a face covering; Maintain social distance of 6 feet between each child who does NOT live in the… MORE
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Eva Trimble, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, had this to say about Nymiah Branch, Property Maintenance Supervisor at Red Hook Houses West: “Nymiah Branch deserves a shout out. He’s been managing Red Hook Houses West tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 crisis, including helping to implement a project that will provide free wireless internet to the… MORE
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Sybille Louis, Director for Performance Tracking and Analytics, praised Yuet-Sim Cheung and her team: “Yuet-Sim Cheung, Assistant Director in the Performance Tracking and Analytics Department, has been instrumental in providing complex data analyses involving demographics of our residents. Her unit has also created various maps of NYCHA developments to assist with NYCHA’s planning and response efforts. Early… MORE
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Octavia Hayward, Manhattan Property Management Director, praised Lehman Village Superintendent Althea Frontin: “Whether it’s 6:00 a.m or 7:00 p.m, any day of the week including weekends, she is there. All leadership qualities, her work ethic and camaraderie with both staff and residents, is a benefit to the success of anywhere she goes. Her diligence and… MORE
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Customer Contact Center Gina Mitchell: Does an excellent job training our new hires. Recently we needed to train the staff from the Walk-in Centers located in Brooklyn and the Bronx. When called upon, Ms. Mitchell answered the call without hesitation. She is now commuting from New Jersey to Brooklyn to train the staff on how to… MORE
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Kudos to Adiba Chowdhury, Legislative Coordinator in the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, from Brian Honan, Vice President of Intergovernmental Relations, and Erin Burns-Maine, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Relations: “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Adiba has worked tirelessly to communicate important information out to community leaders, partners, and elected offices. She is responsible for… MORE
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When Carmen Quiňones first heard news of COVID-19 affecting New Yorkers, she knew she wanted to take action to help the seniors at her Manhattan development, Douglass Houses, where she serves as Resident Association President. Ms. Quiňones contacted La Fonda Boricua restaurant owner James Gonzalez for assistance. The restaurant is participating in the World Central Kitchen’s COVID-19… MORE
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NYCHA has simplified its Rent Hardship Policy to make it easier than ever for you to reduce your rent during the COVID-19 crisis. Who Can Apply for Rent Hardship? If your hours have been cut at work, or if you have lost your job, please fill out an Interim Recertification application immediately. As a public… MORE
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The Hastings-on-Hudson Mask Project and the mother of NYCHA’s Chief Administrative Officer Kerri Jew donated 150 handmade cloth masks to NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center and mailroom staff!
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The Heroes of the Heating Management Services Department (HMSD) From Javier Almodovar, Director of the Heating Management Services Department: “While the HMSD management team would like to commend the following employees, I want to send kudos to the entire department for their diligence and their commitment to the residents we serve. I am proud to… MORE
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From Regional Asset Manager Alex Tolozano: “Madeline Mendez has been a NYCHA employee for 24 years. She is currently the Property Manager at Sotomayor Houses who has shown exceptional management skills in running the development since July of 2019, and especially while dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on staffing levels. Ms. Mendez has shown… MORE
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From Cesar Gonzalez, Acting Director of the Queens/Staten Island Property Management Department: “Property Maintenance Superintendent Ms. Eva Gonzalez, Property Manager Ms. Gloria Fields, and their staff at West Brighton Houses are exemplifying true commitment to the residents we serve. They are conducting muster outside, practicing social distancing, and communicating important messages to staff every day.… MORE
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Atoms Shoe Company Donates Over 20,000 Masks to NYCHA Residents Thanks to its buy-one, donate-one campaign, a Brooklyn-based shoe company, Atoms, is donating over 20,000 face masks to NYCHA residents. Atoms started producing the masks in April in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is donating one mask for every mask that it sells.… MORE
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The Department of Prevention & Intervention Strategies (PAIS) would like to acknowledge staff who are going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic in their work of tackling pest issues at NYCHA developments. PAIS Exterminator Lester Grant has made leaps and bounds in his work performance and is ready to lend a hand to help… MORE
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Ensuring NYCHA Residents Are Safe and Supported The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing the challenges New Yorkers are facing, including for NYCHA’s 400,000 residents. On April 22, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new plan to expand the City’s response to COVID-19 at NYCHA to ensure that these hardworking New Yorkers are safe and supported during this crisis. “NYCHA residents… MORE
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Complimenting Luis Hernandez and Shaquana Ramirez of Redfern Houses Kudos from Ashton Thomas, Property Manager of Redfern Houses: “Luis Hernandez, Property Maintenance Superintendent, and Shaquana Ramirez, Assistant Superintendent of Buildings, are the true meaning of NYCHA unsung heroes. “Mr. Hernandez has been with NYCHA for over 30 years. When most of us are fast asleep, Mr. Hernandez… MORE
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Celebrating NYCHA Heroes Meet Damir Galzina, Senior Deputy Director of the Law Department There are many hardworking men and women, from the central offices to the front lines, who are making sure that NYCHA continues to deliver vital services to residents during the COVID-19 crisis and helping to keep our community healthy and safe. We… MORE
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Celebrating NYCHA Heroes Meet Gerard Wheeler, Elevator Administrator There are many hardworking men and women, from the central offices to the front lines, who are making sure that NYCHA continues to deliver vital services to residents during the COVID-19 crisis and helping to keep our community healthy and safe. We thank them for their service… MORE
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Complimenting Felix Colon & George Ramirez, Supervisors of Grounds From Kim Theodore, Regional Asset Manager, Bronx Property Management: “There are two employees I want to recognize in the Bronx for outstanding work performance. They are both Supervisors of Grounds (SOG) who held down their developments when other supervisors were out due to COVID-19. “Felix Colon… MORE
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Read the Compliance Department’s Quarterly Newsletter
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NYCHA residents have stepped up to help each other and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the city, residents are joining NYCHA staff, elected officials, City agency and non-profit partners, and others to ensure that the most vulnerable residents have access to food. Here are just a few examples: At Butler Houses in the Bronx, resident volunteers like… MORE
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By Valerie Pepe, Business Analyst Specialist, Environmental Health & Safety Dept. Many of us New Yorkers and NYCHA employees have been through a handful of lifechanging events, such as 9/11, the blackout of 2003, and Superstorm Sandy. And each time, we made it through the challenges as one, becoming closer and learning from each other… MORE
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Get Help by Phone or Online While our city stays home to help stop the spread of coronavirus, New Yorkers can access a range of mental health services by phone or online. If you or someone you care about needs support, please reach out to the programs below, compiled by ThriveNYC. Help is available. Every… MORE
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NYCHA Partner Is Available by Phone If you are experiencing domestic violence or abuse during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis, NYCHA’s partner, Safe Horizon, is here for you. Safe Horizon is available to help you explore options, including applying for an emergency transfer. The Community Program Helpline is open and answering calls, checking voicemail messages several… MORE
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Stay Cyber Safe The FBI issued a warning about phishing campaigns that use government checks as lures. Look out for phishing emails that ask you to verify your personal information in order to receive a check from the government. Government agencies will not send emails asking for your private information in order to send you money. The FBI… MORE
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Supporting Each Other and Our City Dear Colleagues, I am reaching out to you today to thank you for all that you are doing in service to NYCHA families and all New Yorkers. I am extremely proud to work alongside you. The NYCHA community is grateful for your dedication and hard work. Please take a… MORE
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NYCHA’s Emergency Services Department Steps Up During COVID-19 Crisis “I would like to thank all my colleagues in the Emergency Services Department (ESD) who are showing up every day to assist NYCHA’s residents, as they do every day and night. I am extremely proud of my team for their dedication, flexibility, and understanding during this… MORE
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NYCHA Disinfects Its Buildings to Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19 As part of its efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, NYCHA has partnered with vendors to sanitize all of its buildings, focusing on high-touch, high-traffic areas such as lobby and common area doors; mailboxes; stairway doors, handles, and handrails; elevator panels; trash chute… MORE
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8/3/21 update (Stay informed about COVID-19 with this biweekly info session): Dear Colleagues, The Environmental Health & Safety Department would like to share with you a resource that can help you stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 information: WorkWell NYC and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Immunization Justice Workgroup are hosting a… MORE
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