pr-20240802

NYC Housing Authority


About NYCHANewsContactResidents Vote

Press Releases
Speeches and Testimonies
NYCHANow

Press Releases

Speeches and Testimonies

NYCHANow


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2024
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov | (212) 306-3322

NYCHA Announces Hylan Houses as the Next Development to Hold Resident Vote on Future of Their Homes

Notice of Vote Mailed on August 1 Officially Kicks Off 100 Days of Engagement

Subsequent 30-Day Voting Period Will Be Overseen by Third-Party Voting Administrator and Will Enable Residents to Choose Between Entering the Public Housing Preservation Trust or the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together Program, or Remaining Section 9 Housing

NEW YORK – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced that Hylan Houses in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn will be the next development to hold an official vote, giving residents a say in the future of their homes. The voting process — first launched at Nostrand Houses in 2023, followed by Bronx River Addition and two developments in Coney Island earlier this year — will provide Hylan residents with an opportunity to choose between three ballot options: entering the Public Housing Preservation Trust, joining the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, or remaining Section 9 housing.

One hundred days of public engagement began with the Notice of Vote sent to Hylan Houses residents on August 1 and will be followed by a 30-day voting period — expected to run from November 13 to December 12 — during which residents will be able to vote online or by mail, or in person during the last 10 days of voting beginning December 3. A qualified, third-party election administrator will conduct and oversee the election.

“Following the initial 100 days of engagement, residents at Hylan Houses will be able to make their voices heard and ultimately decide the future of their NYCHA development,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “The team at NYCHA will be on-the-ground, engaging and educating Hylan Houses residents on all the options in front of them so they can make the most informed decision possible. Regardless of your stance, I urge all eligible residents to participate and use their vote to create the change they want to see.”

"This administration continues to double down on its commitment to tenant decision-making over the future of NYCHA communities," said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. "In one year, NYCHA residents at five developments will have had the opportunity to vote on how their homes are renovated. It's profoundly inspiring to see Hylan Houses' — and so many other NYCHA residents' — commitment to and participation in strengthening their communities for generations to come."

“I’m thrilled that the residents of Hylan Houses will be the next NYCHA community to have the opportunity to cast their votes, building on the momentum of the other votes that have been held thus far,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Robust resident engagement is paramount to delivering comprehensive renovations and to reimagining our campuses in a way that account for the needs of the New Yorkers who live there. That is fundamentally why this process is so important and special, and we look forward to these 100 days of engagement.”

"This is a very exciting opportunity for the Hylan Houses community," said Hylan Houses Tenant Association President Audrey Fraser. "We are very excited to join residents from other developments around the city who have had the opportunity to cast their votes and decide what the future holds for their homes. No matter what decision we make — whether it is to join the Trust, go PACT, or remain Section 9 — the decision made will definitively be ours."

Home to 410 residents in 209 apartments, Hylan Houses is a single 64-year-old building with an estimated 20-year capital need of nearly $90 million. NYCHA estimates needing nearly $80 billion for repairs across its portfolio.

The New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust is a fully public entity signed into law by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022 following extensive advocacy from the Adams administration and NYCHA. The Trust 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 ensuring residents always 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. 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 and binding. The independent voting administrator will conduct the vote and certify the results. Once the 30-day voting period has ended, votes will be tallied and announced.

Voting at NYCHA developments complements the Adams administration’s focus on creating more housing opportunities and improving quality of life for New Yorkers. “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing zoning proposal in New York City’s history, would enable the creation of “a little more housing in every neighborhood” through a set of carefully crafted zoning changes to boost housing supply and affordability across the five boroughs. The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) estimates that the proposal, which is currently in public review and is anticipated to be voted on by the New York City Council before the end of the year, could produce as many as 108,850 new homes over the next 15 years.

.
###

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 520,808 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.