Jill Wynn: Nearly 40 Years in Her Neighborhood, Thanks to Rent Freeze

As part of PEU’s ongoing photo series celebrating older adults who make New York City what it is, we’re sharing Jill’s story. A camera operator, teacher, outdoor educator, and lifelong creative, Jill has spent decades contributing to the fabric of her neighborhood. With help from PEU’s Rent Freeze team, she can continue to thrive in the home she’s loved since 1986.

“I’ve done a lot, and I’ve got no regrets.”

“I came to this building in 1986. The light was great, the bathroom was great, but I didn’t think I could afford it. I called my dad crying. My dad told me, ‘You’re an idiot if you don’t take this apartment.’ I had no idea I’d still be here almost forty years later.

“When I first moved in, I was working in television. I wanted to be Charles Kuralt — doing human stories, documentaries, that kind of thing. I was one of the only women camera operators out on the street. I carried my own camera, the recorder—which was huge—and covered stories all over the city. It was fun and exhausting and I loved it. But after a few years, I was just burnt out and looking for a change.

“So I became a teacher. I’d never taught a day in my life, but somehow they put me in a classroom in Harlem. I cried every night that first year. I had no idea what I was doing. It was the hardest and most beautiful thing I ever did. I stayed for ten years thanks to the help of my mentor. I even helped build a beautiful new library with 10,000 new books in the school. Later I became an outdoor educator. I taught kids about dirt, worms, trees… life. I wanted them to appreciate their existence on this planet.

“I’ve done a lot in my life, and honestly, I have no regrets. I did everything I wanted to.”

“But you know, the city changes every second. Prices keep going up and up. Friends who lived here for decades moved out. Our communities are being devastated by overpricing and overdevelopment. It's been a bummer to watch so many people come and go.

“So you know, I never made much dough. Once I retired, I really wasn’t making a lot. But one of the nice things about getting older is you get all these benefits. So I called 311, and they directed me to the SCRIE people. And that's how I hooked up with Marcos at the Public Engagement Unit. It was just like, boom, he guided me through everything. And now that I have SCRIE, my rent is frozen. It’s huge. It means I can stay in this apartment until I can’t stay living anymore.

“But you know, I’m 68 now–I still go on walks at 1am just to move around. And I love this neighborhood–it’s a “neighborhoody” neighborhood. I know all the doormen on my block.

“And I still do freelance work. I edit for a writer, I help with a little jazz label, I take care of people’s pets.

“I’m still rocking. Nothing’s going to change—except maybe a few more wrinkles.”

Jill’s story is one of thousands across the city—older adults who want to stay rooted in the neighborhoods they helped build, but who face rising costs and housing instability. PEU’s Rent Freeze Specialists work one-on-one with New Yorkers like Jill to ensure they can remain in their homes, stay connected to their communities, and age with dignity in the city they love.

Want to find out if you qualify for Rent Freeze? Call our Rent Freeze Hotline at 929-252-7242 to speak with a PEU Rent Freeze Specialist about freezing your rent.