I am excited to join the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) as Chairman of the largest public housing authority in the United States and also the largest landlord in New York City. Our primary focus is providing affordable quality housing to New Yorkers with low and moderate incomes, wisely investing our resources, and preserving and upgrading our public housing stock.  We also are committed to providing programs and services that enrich the lives of our residents-nearly one-third of them children-and to offering opportunities through partnerships with our network of more than 400 community-based facilities within public housing throughout New York City.

This is an exciting time for NYCHA as it celebrates its 75th year.  Recently, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan relayed the Obama administration's commitment to once again fully fund public housing, which, for the past 8 years, has been significantly reduced throughout the United States, seriously jeopardizing homes for the millions of Americans who rely on access to safe and affordable housing.  We are also excited about the commitment from President Obama and Congress to provide NYCHA with $423 million in stimulus funding to preserve our public housing buildings. In keeping with the goal of expanding this access, I intend to be a strong advocate for NYCHA in pursuing opportunities that help grow and sustain our developments and the families who call them home.

As a successful public housing authority, NYCHA relies on a dedicated team of more than 11,000-plus employees, many of whom are also our residents, to manage the agency's building and program initiatives.  They also help build on collaborative relationships with resident leaders who advocate on behalf of their constituents; with community-based partners who provide special programs and access to resources, and with local and elected officials who are supportive of public housing.  We understand that the work we do affects hundreds of thousands of people in very profound ways, and we reaffirm our commitment to meeting the needs of our residents, to whom we ultimately are accountable. As Chairman of NYCHA, I am excited about the opportunity to build on our 75-year legacy and to accomplish even greater goals.

I invite you to visit our Web site to learn more about NYCHA's 338 developments where our interactive mapping tool provides detailed information about each one. The About NYCHA section shows our structure, financial information and highlights our rich history. The Community Programs and Services section features resources and services like the Garden Program; the Teen Musical Theater program; and our Resident Employment Services program, all of which are available to NYCHA residents.

Chairman, John B. Rhea