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Speeches and Testimonies

NYCHANow


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2024
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov | (212) 306-3322

Hylan Houses Residents Begin Voting on the Future of Their Homes Following 100 Days of Public Engagement

A 30-day voting period will run through December 12, during which residents will choose between joining the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust or the PACT program or remaining Section 9

Residents can vote online or by mail beginning today or in person during the last 10 days of the voting period

NEW YORK – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today commenced the official start of resident voting at Hylan Houses following 100 days of public engagement. The vote was first announced in August and will run for 30 days, giving residents the opportunity to have a say in the future of their homes by choosing between three ballot options: joining the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust or the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program or remaining Section 9. Residents of the Brooklyn development may begin voting online or by mail today or can cast their votes in person during the final 10 days of the election period (December 3 through December 12, 2024). A qualified, independent, third-party administrator will conduct and oversee the election.

“The most powerful resource that NYCHA residents have is their ability to make their voice heard at the ballot booth during resident voting,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “For the residents at Hylan Houses, I urge them to take full advantage of this opportunity by deciding the future of their development. Regardless of whether you support the Trust, PACT, or remaining part of Section 9 housing, now is the time to vote and help chart the course forward for Hylan Houses.”

"This administration continues to fulfill its commitment to ensuring NYCHA tenants choose what’s best for their communities," said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. "NYCHA residents' vote on Hylan Houses is a major step forward in maintaining safe, quality, affordable housing in this neighborhood for generations to come."

“NYCHA campuses are truly unique,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “For this reason, resident voting at NYCHA has been an invaluable resource in determining the best path forward for our developments and the residents who call them home. Now, Hylan Houses will begin their next chapter by selecting the ballot option that best meets their community’s specific needs.”

“Public housing residents deserve to choose the path forward that they deem best meets their needs and goals,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I am eager for Hylan Houses to make their determination on how their development is funded and managed and grateful to NYCHA for uplifting residents’ voices.”

“With this vote, the residents of Hylan Houses have the chance to address the needs of their community and shape its future,” said Congress Member Nydia M. Velázquez. “This is an important decision, and I encourage every eligible Hylan House resident to participate and make their voice heard. Throughout this process, residents must have all the necessary information about the options before them so they can make the decision that best serves them, their families, and their community. Ultimately, I will support whatever option residents choose and will continue to fight for increased investment at the federal level.”

“As families begin this important voting process at Hylan Houses, I want to emphasize that this is a historic moment for tenants — one where their voices, choices, and their needs are at the center of the decision-making process,” said Assembly Member Maritza Davila. “For far too long, tenants have lived with broken promises and unfixed repairs, waiting for the basic living conditions they deserve. This vote is about giving residents the power to shape the future of their homes. Bringing this housing development into the 21st century is long overdue. It's about moving forward with a system that puts tenants first, allows them to choose the path that best meets their housing needs.”

If residents elect to join the Trust or the PACT program, Hylan Houses will convert from Section 9 Public Housing to Project-Based Section 8 and leverage streams of funding available through the federal government. Residents also have the option of remaining within the traditional public housing funding structure, Section 9.

The New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust, a fully public entity signed into law by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022, is expected to unlock billions of dollars in federal funding for comprehensive renovations at NYCHA developments to improve living conditions for residents. Under the Trust, a development is kept 100 percent public and converted to the more stable, federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program, while residents maintain their rights, including permanently affordable rent.

The PACT program similarly transitions developments from traditional Section 9 assistance to Project-Based Section 8 and unlocks funding for designated third-party PACT partners to complete comprehensive repairs. Overall, 139 NYCHA developments (representing over 37,000 apartments) are in pre-development, are under construction, or have completed construction through the program. The Authority is on track to include 62,000 apartments in the PACT program in order to bring the benefits of comprehensive apartment repairs and building upgrades, as well as enhanced property management and social services, to more than 142,000 residents.

According to the official voting procedures, residents are eligible to vote if they are 18 years or older and part of the household composition. Participation from a minimum threshold of 20 percent of all heads of household is required for a vote to be considered valid.

During the 100-day public engagement period leading up to the voting periods at Hylan Houses, NYCHA’s voter engagement team held public information meetings, conducted door-knocking and phone-banking, and distributed informative materials to residents at both developments. NYCHA also hosted office hours and connected with interested residents one-on-one to explain the upcoming vote and the ballot options.

The vote at Hylan Houses follows the inaugural vote at Nostrand Houses and subsequent votes at Bronx River Addition, Coney Island Houses, and Coney Island I (Site 1B). In each case, residents voted in favor of the Trust, except at Coney Island Houses, where residents opted to remain Section 9.

The independent voting administrator will conduct the vote, receive and investigate any allegations of irregularities or misconduct, and certify the voting results. Once the 30-day voting period has ended, the independent voting administrator will tally the votes and announce the results.

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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 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.