Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2016
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov | (212) 306-3322

NEW YORK—The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) recently marked the one-year anniversary of NextGeneration NYCHA with the release of testimonials from those, among many, that are contributing to NYCHA’s massive turnaround effort. NextGeneration NYCHA (NextGen) is the Authority’s ten-year strategic plan to stabilize the financial crisis facing New York City’s public housing while creating safer, cleaner, and more connected communities. NextGen’s 15 targeted strategies support four principal goals: change the way NYCHA is funded; operate like a more modern, efficient landlord; (re)build existing public housing and new affordable housing; and engage residents in meaningful ways. In year one, NYCHA is moving in a positive direction and seeing results.

 

NEXTGEN (RE)BUILD GOAL: (RE)BUILD EXISTING PUBLIC HOUSING AND NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING

(Click to Watch)

Darold Burgess is a 50-year resident of Ingersoll Houses, where NYCHA is building 100%-affordable senior housing, and the Vice President of the Resident Association there. As a community leader, Darold empowers the residents at his development to work with NYCHA to make the community safer, cleaner, and more connected. An active participant at Ingersoll visioning meetings, Darold gave input that informed the creation of the RFP, which focused on seniors.

This year, NYCHA and HPD selected the developer teams to build the 100%-affordable housing and community centers at Ingersoll and Van Dyke Houses in Brooklyn, and at the Mill Brook Houses in the Bronx – and incorporated the input of residents like Darold. As a result, the applications include community-center programming, innovative design and affordable housing for seniors and families. And as NYCHA proceeds with the development projects at NextGeneration Neighborhood sites, where new buildings will be 50% affordable, NYCHA has worked closely with residents throughout the process to ensure the interests, concerns, and priorities of the community are addressed as the projects move forward.

 

NEXTGEN ENGAGE GOAL: ENGAGE RESIDENTS IN MEANINGFUL WAYS

(Click to Watch)

Denise Guess is a Community Coordinator in NYCHA’s Resident Engagement department. Denise supports community and resident leadership in Brooklyn, and works with residents to improve quality of life by connecting them with best-in-class services. Through resident leadership and strategic partnerships, NYCHA is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for resident and community input.

Additionally, NYCHA is focused on providing increased economic opportunity to residents. NYCHA is proud to announce that, this year, its Resident Training Academy graduated over 350 students, while its Food Business Pathways program graduated 84 students. Both programs have already seen amazing success stories, with one recent graduate opening a Jamaican Jerk Chicken restaurant in Brooklyn.

Learn more about NextGen’s first year and key NYCHA accomplishments here.

 

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