February 2021

The Fire Safety Oversight Team in NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) knows the importance of fire safety. The team’s five Fire Safety Specialists, led by a Team Administrator, are certified fire safety professionals with a combined 60 years of fire safety experience. In addition to ensuring that the Authority complies with all applicable… MORE

NYCHA resident Shakeema Scott was working as a federal officer for 10 years when she decided to take a “leap of faith” and enroll in training for the construction trades.  Fellow NYCHA resident Chris Bishop had been unemployed and searching for jobs for nearly a year when he looked to construction training for a solution.   The two former construction… MORE

If you ask an attorney for their opinion, don’t be surprised if they have a “law-centric” response. “The law touches on every aspect of what we do at NYCHA. From purchasing to public hearings, and from capital initiatives to providing testimony on everything from safety to RAD/PACT, the Law Department is involved in everything NYCHA… MORE

A new outdoor public art exhibition, “Intertwining Colors,” is now on view across 370 feet of construction scaffolding at Fulton Houses and Chelsea-Elliott Houses. The art features hand-painted murals with portraits of 60 residents from both NYCHA developments. “Intertwining Colors” is part of an ongoing artist fellowship program, “Bridging the Divide,” through ArtBridge, a non-profit… MORE

NYCHA developments are a major part of New York City’s landscape, so it is no wonder that they have played a supporting role in the backgrounds of numerous documentaries, films, and television shows.

“Love where you live.” That was one of the messages from NYCHA residents who produced videos detailing how they are helping to shape safety interventions in their communities.   Led by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, a virtual summit held in late January brought together NYCHA resident leaders, local government officials, and policy makers to discuss how these safety interventions can influence policy.  … MORE

To commemorate Black History Month, NYCHA is highlighting the work of partner organizations that support, educate, and advocate for NYCHA residents to learn new skills to empower themselves and their communities. Melisa Jamison had a small business but was not sure how to grow or market it. A flyer in the lobby of her Rutgers… MORE

Residents of Staten Island’s Stapleton Houses may soon notice some brightly colored signs promoting health and wellness, family support, youth programming, and career opportunities while walking the grounds.   The yellow and black directories are not calling attention to self-help services but rather to a dedicated outdoor space where residents can get access to a variety of information on beneficial community resources. Dubbed “Stapleton… MORE

Dear Colleagues,  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Public Housing Assessment System – known as PHAS – is a critical way we ensure that our housing is decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. Through regular PHAS inspections, HUD determines whether our buildings – from the grounds to apartments – meet the… MORE

Meet Andre Gonzalez, Employee Safety Oversight Advisor We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who are making a difference for our organization. In this installment, meet Andre Gonzalez, Employee Safety Oversight Advisor in the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department. A NYCHA employee since 2012, he is also a former resident of the Longfellow Avenue… MORE

Patti Bayross, NYCHA’s newest Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO), is somewhat of an anomaly. For starters, she is a woman in an industry largely populated by men*. She prefers public service to private industry, and she doesn’t believe in technology for technology’s sake alone. “While new technologies arise all the time, their… MORE

The Daily News Editorial Board published an op-ed on February 1 in support of NYCHA’s A Blueprint for Change ideas titled “NYCHA’s last hope: A public housing trust is the best chance to save New York’s beleaguered authority.” A Blueprint for Change is a set of proposals to transform and invest in the Authority’s properties, residents, and organization. The Editorial Board writes: “…it’s refreshing to see an… MORE

Kudos for Longtime Service to Residents and the City Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in January!   5 Years of Service 10 Years of Service 15 Years of Service 20 Years of Service 25… MORE

Since 1941, Kingsborough Houses has been the home of Exodus and Dance, an 8-foot by 80-foot sculpture that depicts scenes of Black people dancing and having a religious celebration. After almost 80 years on display outdoors at the development, the elements and time have taken their toll on the piece, and a restoration project will… MORE