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For Immediate Release: December 12, 2022

Contact: Media Inquiries | media@nycha.nyc.gov

NYCHA Publishes Final Voting Procedures for Public Housing Preservation Trust

Informed by residents and an advisory committee, a four-month engagement process, and over 300 public comments, the final voting procedures outline how residents will choose the future of their developments— the first process of its kind in the country

Residents will vote to join the Public Housing Preservation Trust, join PACT, or remain in the traditional Section 9 program

The Trust could unlock $10 billion and speed up repairs for tens of thousands of NYCHA residents

NEW YORK, NY – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced today it has finalized the voting procedures that will allow residents to vote whether to opt into the Public Housing Preservation Trust. The procedures published today were finalized at the end of a four-month engagement process that involved the creation of an advisory committee which included 10 resident leaders and generated over 300 public comments.

In accordance with the legislation passed by the State Legislature and signed into law in June authorizing the Trust, NYCHA is establishing a resident opt-in voting process that will allow residents to decide the future of their homes. Starting early next year, NYCHA will begin identifying an initial list of developments where resident votes will be held in accordance with the voting procedures. NYCHA intends to identify these developments based on several factors, including the physical needs of the developments as well as continued dialogue with residents, resident leaders and advocates.

“With the NYCHA Public Housing Preservation Trust, NYCHA residents finally have the power to determine the future of their homes,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “After decades of disinvestment in NYCHA that has led to crumbling buildings and deteriorating infrastructure, the Trust will unlock billions of dollars for desperately needed repairs. Thank you to every NYCHA resident who participated in the four-month engagement process, and we look forward to bringing this conversation to developments across the entire city to give NYCHA residents the quality of life they deserve.”

“The new Public Housing Preservation Trust voting procedures are a major milestone for NYCHA, the residents, and for public housing nationwide, as we empower NYCHA residents to have a say in the future of their homes. Residents have real choices between the Trust and PACT, and they will get to work alongside NYCHA as we all fight for better public housing for New Yorkers,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “Preserving NYCHA, our most critical affordable housing portfolio, is a top priority for the Adams Administration. Today is a step forward in keeping that promise, protecting tenant rights, and giving voice to those who have been shut out of the conversation for too long.”

“The Public Housing Preservation Trust is a critical tool for bringing much-needed repairs to NYCHA developments against a backdrop of tremendous capital needs,” said NYCHA Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The release of the final voting procedures is another key milestone in bringing the Trust to fruition, and one that gets to the very heart of what the Trust is about: empowering residents to make decisions about the future of their homes. We are grateful to the residents, working group members and all of our partners who have been collaborating with us every step of the way.”

Over the past four months, NYCHA brought together resident leaders, policy advocates, and experts to develop the procedures for this voting process, reflecting the interests and input of the residents they represent. The working group that acted as the advisory committee for the voting process included 10 resident leaders and three advocacy groups. They convened 16 times since the end of July.

"As a Citywide leader on public housing issues, I'm really proud of the work that my fellow resident leaders, advocates and NYCHA staff achieved together,” said Barbara McFadden, NYCHA Citywide Council of Presidents Brooklyn South Member and Nostrand Houses Resident Association President. “I know that residents will come out to participate in elections with rules that are fair for everyone. I am excited to see what the future holds with residents at the forefront, making their own choices."

“As a community organizer, I understand that change only comes when people work together,” said Karen Blondel, Resident Association President at Red Hook West Houses. “Residents, NYCHA and advocates need to listen and respect each other if we are really going to save public housing in New York City. This working group understood that path forward and I know that we still have more work to do – but we are willing to do it. This work going forward must be done authentically and cohesively with everyone acknowledging this is going to require us to work together on behalf of the residents.”

“Here at the Polo Grounds, we have so many issues and repairs that need to be addressed but the only way to do that is with a collaborative approach. We cannot continue to wait,” said Serena Chandler, Resident Association President at Polo Grounds Towers. “The Trust legislation put in place a more democratic system that allows tenants to decide the future of their homes.”

“We met for months and negotiated on some really tough issues in an intelligent and respectful way,” said Naomi Johnson, Tenant Association President at Howard Houses. “Some of us disagreed at times, but everyone knew that we were all working with the residents’ interests in mind. With these rules in place, I am confident that residents will come together to do what is best for their developments.”

“It's really important that every resident who votes understands the process and receives all vital information to make an informed decision,” said Bridget Marachlian, Tenant Association President at Bland Houses. “We may have had differing opinions, but this group that included tenant leaders and advocates worked alongside NYCHA to create this final voting procedure with the residents’ best interest as a first priority.”

On October 14, 2022, NYCHA released the initial draft of the voting procedures for public comment. During the public comment period, which ended on November 23, NYCHA received over 300 comments both in writing and orally at the eight public meetings that were held (at least one in each borough and two virtual).

Based on the feedback NYCHA received, both in person and in writing, NYCHA made over a dozen revisions to the draft voting procedures. Changes include:

An extension of the voting period from 21 days to 30 days;

Clarification on the information to be provided to residents ahead of a vote, including that a development’s physical needs assessment will be provided to residents; and

A doubling of the minimum voter participation rate to 20 percent of heads of household.

In addition, a requirement was added for NYCHA to monitor the effectiveness of the engagement strategies and, upon the completion of elections held at six developments, prepare an analysis detailing successes, challenges and commitments for further improving voter engagement and participation.

Other key elements of the final voting rules include a minimum 100-day engagement period per site prior to any voting period; a 30-day voting period that will include in-person, online or mail-in ballots for all heads of household and authorized permanent residents 18 years of age or above; a requirement to use a third-party election administrator to conduct the vote; an option to reject all options on the ballot; and NYCHA committing to the option with the most votes from residents.

The full final voting procedures are available here, and can be translated into more than 130 languages.

NYCHA will continue to meet with residents, in person and virtually, to inform them about the Trust and to answer questions. For the latest information on upcoming meeting dates, please visit on.nyc.gov/trust-townhalls.

Starting next year, NYCHA will begin reaching out to residents about conducting a vote in accordance with the voting procedures. At this time, no developments are voting on whether to join the Trust; when the voting does begin, it will happen in phases, development by development.

“These voting procedures, which were a critical component in the creation of the NYCHA Trust, will ensure that residents’ voices will be heard and that tenants will be part of the decision-making process as this transformative legislation improves the lives of NYCHA residents for many years to come,” said Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee and prime Assembly sponsor of the Trust legislation.

“Today marks a historic moment for securing power of choice for NYCHA residents,” said Sarah Watson, interim Executive Director of Citizens Housing &amp; Planning Council. “The new voting procedures and rules for the NYCHA Preservation Trust were developed in partnership with resident leaders and community-based organizations, deliberately designed to encourage diverse participation. For the very first time, through an inclusive, unbiased, and transparent process that is tailored to the needs of each development, residents will be able to vote on their chosen rehabilitation program. It is essential that residents, who know their homes best, have the final say in the future of their developments. We believe that the Trust voting rules accomplish this. We applaud Mayor Adams and the Administration for undertaking this momentous new procedure to capture and elevate residents’ voices and address long-awaited rehabilitation needs.”

The Trust is a fully public entity that will bring billions of dollars in comprehensive renovations to thousands of NYCHA apartments while maintaining residents’ rights (including permanently affordable rent) and keeping NYCHA properties 100 percent public.

For more information about the Trust, please visit on.nyc.gov/preservation-trust.

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to roughly 1 in 16 New Yorkers across over 177,000 apartments within 335 housing developments. NYCHA serves over 339,000 residents through the conventional public housing program (Section 9), over 29,000 residents at developments that have been converted to PACT/RAD, and over 92,000 families through federal rent subsidies (the Section 8 Leased Housing Program). In addition, NYCHA connects residents to opportunities in financial empowerment, business development, career advancement, and educational programs. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.