NYCHA - Hurricane Recovery Jobs at NYCHA

NYC Housing Authority


Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2012
Contact: media@nycha.nyc.gov, (212) 306-3322

The New York City Housing Authority Receives a $7.1 Million Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to Provide Nearly 400 Post-Sandy Recovery Jobs

NYCHA partners with Small Business Services to recruit residents in impacted areas

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has received a $7.1 million National Emergency Grant from the United States Department of Labor to hire residents for post-Sandy recovery jobs in NYCHA developments. The funds will be used to cover the costs for 378 jobs at NYCHA from Caretaker to Community Outreach Worker. New Yorkers in impacted areas who lost employment as a result of Sandy will be given priority for these positions. NYCHA will conduct special outreach to public housing residents in these areas. The temporary job program provides funding assistance for up to six months in response to significant dislocation events like Hurricane Sandy. The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) will assist in the hiring of prospective workers through its Workforce1 program. The New York City Workforce1 Career Center system provides the City’s adult workforce and businesses with a full array of employment and recruitment services including one-on-one meetings with jobseekers to review their resume, screen for jobs, and match them to available jobs.

“This grant will enable us to not only continue our recovery efforts but help affected residents recover from the financial impact of Hurricane Sandy,” said John B. Rhea, NYCHA Chairman. “There is still much work to be done in our developments to clean and restore all areas affected by Sandy, and ensure a safe living environment, while helping families and seniors regain full control of their lives.”

“Workforce1 is honored to use its hiring expertise to help quickly and efficiently place New Yorkers in jobs that will help some of the hardest hit areas in the City get back on their feet," said Robert Walsh, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “Thanks to the NYS Department of Labor and the National Emergency Grant, we will work with NYCHA to fill nearly 400 positions, and continue to help place New Yorkers in jobs.”

"As the President of the CCOP that represents all of the public housing communities of New York City, we are all pleased that NYCHA and the Department of Labor are partnering to give public housing residents the opportunity to participate in the Sandy relief and recovery efforts, and become part of the paid labor force," said Reginald Bowman, President of NYCHA’s Citywide Council of Presidents (CCOP), the NYCHA resident leadership group. “This is a tremendous opportunity and an example of NYCHA and the CCOP working together to show residents participating in the mainstream of New York life.”

The jobs will be direct, temporary hires by NYCHA to aid in the recovery efforts in developments affected by Sandy. Applicants must meet one of the following criteria for post-Sandy jobs: they must be currently unemployed; they must have lost employment as a result of Hurricane Sandy (temporarily or permanently); or have been unemployed for 27 weeks, or more; or have been laid off or terminated by their last employer. Available positions range from Caretaker, who will perform general cleaning and janitorial duties; to Community Assistant, who will connect residents to critical resources by being a part of door-knocking efforts, and distributing information about the services available to them, among other tasks.

As part of the recruitment process, NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), in partnership with the NYS Department of Labor and SBS, plans to host pre-screening events for residents in Red Hook, Coney Island, the Rockaways and the Lower East Side to interview and process applicants to expedite hiring. REES is also working with SBS to recruit residents for post-Sandy jobs at other City agencies by making direct referrals to those agencies.