Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2014
Contact: media@nycha.nyc.gov, (212) 306-3322

NYCHA Statement in Response to NYC Comptroller Audit on Section 3

NYCHA is proud of its job growth and retention initiatives that continue to support our residents and the NYC economy

Under the new leadership of New York Housing Authority Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, NYCHA is proud of its job growth and retention initiatives that continue to support our residents and the NYC economy too, so we’re disappointed to see these efforts so publically misrepresented with old and incomplete data.

While we appreciate the City Comptroller’s effort to look into this important policy, the report fails to show the full picture: Through year-end 2013, NYCHA contractors* spent $2.4 million on wages for NYCHA residents, representing 85 of contracts open at the end of last year. And through October 2013, NYCHA and our contractors generated 1,600 jobs- all for NYCHA residents.

Increasing job opportunities for our residents is a top priority for NYCHA’s new administration. We are committed to continue and improve successful sustainable job training and long-term career development efforts that have led to strong job growth and retention.

*Participating in our Resident Employment Program (NYCHA hiring policy that goes beyond HUD’s Section 3 guidelines)

Background:

JOB #s
NYCHA has not only met HUD’s Section 3 Guidelines, we’ve gone above and beyond by developing job training programs and long term, sustainable careers, many for NYCHA residents. That’s 1,600 jobs for low-income workers through fall 2013.

PLACEMENT
900-plus residents have graduated from NYCHA’s Resident Training Academy; 87 percent of those were placed in jobs.

RETENTION
Nearly 80 percent of graduates of NYCHA’s Resident Training Academy have remained employed in their construction jobs for more than one year. And for janitorial jobs, more than 80 percent reached that milestone too.

WAGES
By close of 2013, NYCHA contractors participating in our Resident Employment Program (NYCHA hiring policy that goes beyond HUD Sect. 3) spent $2.4M on wages for NYCHA residents. This represents 85 contracts open at the close of the year.

CONTROLS
The audit made several recommendations about reporting and monitoring controls to ensure greater accuracy, with which we agree and that relate to worthwhile changes NYCHA has already implemented and is expanding.