The vision for NYCHA in the 1930s was very similar, if not identical, to the proposed Social Housing. Public Housing, like Social Housing, was intended to be affordable housing for the working class with low rents. However, the Federal government, state, and city failed to invest in NYCHA to the point where we are today: Capital repair needs are almost $80 billion; individual developments have been privatized; Public Housing Preservation Trust was passed but gotten off to a slow and unclear start; and there are recent proposals for social housing but nothing to address the existing problems in NYCHA. In addition to the capital deficit, the maintenance and living conditions of NYCHA continue to be borderline inhumane. There are constant complaints of no heat and hot water, cases of black mold, and overall dehumanizing management of government-run housing. There has been no plan to integrate NYCHA into any affordable housing strategy or tenant protection efforts; we continue to treat NYCHA as an afterthought: “oh - and NYCHA too.”  We need to preserve NYCHA and ensure the 600,000 residents (a growing senior population) have dignified and safe housing. 

My plan will:

1. Create a steady capital budget plan that leverages increased allocations of public housing capital funds from the state and city, debt financing, Section 9, and maintaining the portability of Section 8, along with a strategy to reduce inefficient operating costs.

2. With the drastic change in the federal government and the forthcoming steep cuts, it is time for the state and city to take responsibility for the stability and preservation of NYCHA by increasing the state’s allocation to NYCHA’s operating budget to at least $500 million.

3. Give NYCHA residents autonomy and decision-making authority to decide on conversion to a Public Housing Preservation Trust, any transfers to public/private partnerships, use of infill developments, or any contract that impacts the use of space on NYCHA’s property or management of NYCHA. The government at all levels has failed to invest in NYCHA, so we need to protect residents’ autonomy to define what dignified housing means to them.