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NYCHA Now
A Blueprint for Change
Blueprint for Change November 2020 

Update on “A Blueprint for Change”

Michael Corwin

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 enable the Authority to improve the delivery of services for residents through a “Neighborhood Model” for property operations, among other organizational improvements. The Transformation Plan builds upon the work we’ve been doing to make significant progress in key areas that most impact residents’ quality of life, and it is centered around the imperative to foster a new culture of service at the Authority. 
  • A Stabilization Strategy, which puts forth the first-ever plan to comprehensively renovate and update every single NYCHA building. It can accomplish this by establishing a Public Housing Preservation Trust. While rehabilitating NYCHA buildings and apartments, the Public Trust would keep public housing 100 percent public and affordable and ensure that residents maintain their full rights and protections for perpetuity. Together, the Public Trust and the existing Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) initiative can bring the billions of dollars in investment that our buildings desperately need. 
  • A Jobs and Recovery Strategy: While we bring massive investment to our buildings and residents’ homes – the largest investment in New York City’s public housing since the 1950s – we will generate jobs for New Yorkers, and we will prioritize NYCHA residents for the job training and employment. Every dollar put into public housing is more than doubled in the regional economy, thanks to the jobs and tax revenues generated by the investment. This will help the city recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We would like to hear from you, residents, and our other stakeholders about these Blueprint ideas and strategies. In November, you will be able to visit our website to review the Blueprint and submit your ideas, concerns, and feedback. We will be in touch soon with specific details. In the meantime, you can learn more about A Blueprint for Change by visiting on.nyc.gov/blueprintforchange.  

At the heart of all this work is our mission to improve residents’ quality of life and expand access to opportunity for New Yorkers. We thank you for your input and your partnership as we strive to change the way we do business and make progress together.  

Sincerely, 

Greg Russ, Chair & CEO