Mayor Mamdani and NYCHA Announce First-of-its-Kind “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood” Engagements for Public Housing Residents

 

Events will continue the administration’s work to bring resident voice into public policy  

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt announced a series of “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood” events in May and June, marking a first-of-its-kind engagement for NYCHA residents to speak directly with senior leaders and connect with services from a range of City agencies in communities near where they live.

Each “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood” forum will give residents opportunities to discuss issues affecting developments across the city, including repairs, community programming, pests and waste, elevators, mold, lead and public safety. The events will invite residents from across each neighborhood to participate in small-group discussions with senior City and NYCHA leadership, creating a new level of engagement for New Yorkers to share feedback, help shape policy and receive assistance.

Each forum will cover a neighborhood-wide area of NYCHA developments, rather than focusing on a single property, and discussions will cover a variety of policy topics and programs. The first three forums will be held in the Bronx on May 20, in Brooklyn on June 3 and in Manhattan on June 17. NYCHA residents can register to attend HERE.

“As we work to deliver the investments and improvements residents deserve, NYCHA in Your Neighborhood will help put public housing residents at the center of policymaking. These forums will give residents a new opportunity to weigh in on the issues that matter most to them and access services from a range of City agencies,” said Mayor Mamdani.

“NYCHA serves more than 500,000 New Yorkers – their voices and experiences are critical as we collectively shape and implement a vision for a more affordable city. With NYCHA in Your Neighborhood, senior City and NYCHA leaders will meet public housing residents in their communities, to listen and discuss how we can be more responsive to community concerns and ideas, while making connections to existing resources,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.

“The ‘NYCHA in Your Neighborhood’ forums are a natural progression in how NYCHA engages with residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Drawing on a broad array of resident engagement programs and services, we will be bringing senior NYCHA staff and subject matter experts directly to residents to discuss their visions for their homes and campuses. We’re very excited to take this next step alongside the Mamdani administration, as we work with NYCHA residents face-to-face, on an individual basis, to hear concerns and develop meaningful solutions together.”

“NYCHA is continuing to evolve in how we engage residents,” said NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble. “Building on a wide range of resident engagement platforms and services, the ‘NYCHA in Your Neighborhood’ forums will provide residents and senior leadership alike a new opportunity to connect on the day-to-day issues affecting their homes, buildings, and communities. Residents will also be able to learn about useful resources from other city agencies. Our goal is to bring services and benefits to our residents by meeting them where they are and building genuine connections.”

The events build on the Mamdani administration’s commitment to bringing the day-to-day work of City government to New Yorkers. At the events, City officials will hear directly from public housing residents and use their input to shape housing policy and improve housing quality at properties across the city.

Each forum will offer residents the opportunity to participate in small-group discussions with NYCHA and City Hall leadership, as well as visit resource tables where residents can engage one-on-one with NYCHA staff about apartment repairs, tenancy concerns, environmental issues and more. The forums will also include support and resources from NYCHA, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and other City agencies including the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Department for the Aging (DFTA).

NYCHA in Your Neighborhood builds on existing engagement with public housing residents, including regular resident leadership and tenant association meetings, board meetings, resident roundtables, surveys and more. Residents at each development also have a direct line to the Authority through a Property Management Office and dedicated on-site staff, in addition to specialty teams responding around the clock to emergency heating, elevator, and skilled-trades repair needs. NYCHA residents in need of assistance are also encouraged to call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or submit work tickets through the MyNYCHA application.

“Residents have consistently voiced concerns regarding mold, leaks, pests, heat, lead conditions, public safety, delayed repairs, and lack of accountability. These forums provide an avenue for residents to speak directly with decision-makers and obtain one-on-one assistance regarding unresolved issues impacting their homes and families,” said Daniel Barber, Chairman, Citywide Council of Presidents.