Dear New Yorkers,

Today my office released a new audit revealing that evictions in NYCHA’s PACT properties take place at a significantly higher rate than traditional NYCHA developments.

There are a lot of acronyms in this audit, so here’s a little more background info: The Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program is NYCHA’s program under the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. It allows NYCHA developments to convert to the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program, thereby unlocking federal funding for sorely needed repairs and capital improvements.

After the pandemic eviction moratorium expired, evictions increased across the city. But eviction rates in PACT developments were particularly high – nearly matching the rates of evictions among private rental housing. What’s more, our auditors found that NYCHA failed to ensure that PACT operators followed standard operating procedures for pre-eviction outreach and tenant protections.

John, housing is one of the most urgent issues on all New Yorkers’ minds. And NYCHA residents deserve genuine input into decisions about their future, and clear information about their options. That’s why we conducted this audit as recommended by our NYCHA Resident Audit Committee. It provides valuable information – both for NYCHA to better oversee the PACT program, and for residents to be empowered to make decisions about the future of their housing.

Given the massive, urgent need for repairs for NYCHA residents’ difficult everyday living conditions, NYCHA residents need a variety of opportunities to realize safe, quality housing.

As outlined in our audit, NYCHA residents should be able to choose to enter the new Preservation Trust, work with a PACT partner, or stay in the Section 9 program and keep pushing for a comprehensive modernization (like the one I was proud to fight for and win for Gowanus and Wyckoff Houses in Brooklyn). And, importantly, NYCHA residents should be equipped with the transparent and accurate information they need to make decisions about their own housing.

Read our full audit and recommendations here.

With hope for a more affordable and livable city,

Brad

Office of the New York City Comptroller

Our mailing address is:
Office of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander
1 Centre Street
New York, NY 10007
United States

This email was sent to [email protected]. If you wish to no longer receive these messages, please unsubscribe.