6,500 Section 8 Vouchers Saved
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First-Class new york city housing authority U.S. Postage Paid New York, NY Permit No. 4119 NYCHA NYCHA Vol. 40 No. 6 Journawww.nyc.gov/nycha l August 2010 INSIDE 6,500 Section 8 THIS ISSUE Vouchers Saved cooperative plan among New York City, New York State and the federal government has resulted in A Section 8 rental vouchers being restored or retained for 6,500 families. In 2009 and 2010, falling tenant contribu- tions and lower than normal attrition rates led to a budget shortfall in the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) Section 8 program and at housing authorities nationwide. In New York City, that caused approximately 2,500 rental vouchers to be withdrawn and put 4,000 families already NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea (far right) stands with Mayor Michael R. NEW RESIDENT WATCH using the vouchers at risk of losing them. Bloomberg (far left) and officials from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the federal Department PROMOTES Safety & Security at However on July 1, a plan was announced to save all of Housing and Urban Development at an affordable housing ground- Developments » read more on page 4 of the vouchers. For the 2,500 families that had vouchers breaking in the Bronx. withdrawn, 750 of them will be issued Section 8 vouchers NYCHA Section 8 participants in danger of losing their by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation vouchers to HPD, allowing HPD to use its budget reserves and Development (HPD), and another 750 will get the to relieve NYCHA of the cost of maintaining these vouchers. HPD subsidy equivalent to Section 8. These vouchers and “Mayor Bloomberg has continued to show tremendous subsidies will be issued to applicants in a priority order leadership in challenging agencies to work together to agreed upon by NYCHA and HPD. The other 1,000 families craft innovative solutions to the increasing demand for will receive Section 8 vouchers from NYCHA in 2011. housing assistance,” said NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea The federal Department of Housing and Urban Devel- in a news release that announced the plan. “NYCHA is opment (HUD) agreed to transfer nearly 2,000 existing pleased to be part of a solution that continued on page 2 RESIDENTS EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH Painting, Sculpture, Photos » read more on page 6 NYCHA NBA Champion and All-Star Ron Residents Artest (top center) returned to Queensbridge Houses where he Train to grew up, on July 15, 2010. Mr. Artest received a Community Earn Their Recognition Award from Queensbridge residents and the Stripes East River Development Alliance. New NYCHA-NFL Officiating Academy Offers Lessons and Skills On and Off the Field By Christian Nwachukwu ublic housing residents Pnow can exercise their Monday morning quarterback- FAST FACTS ing skills – for real. The new opportunity is afoot through a The first NYCHA Tenant partnership between the New Patrol (now Resident York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the National Watch) was created in Football League (NFL). They June 1968. have teamed up to create the Football Officiating Academy 390 residents representing for young New Yorkers inter- 55 developments had ested in learning the rules art work on display in Sean Weston of Ralph J. Rangel Houses in Manhattan properly displays the signal for a touchdown at the of the game. The co-ed New York Giants’ training facility in the Meadowlands as part of the NYCHA-NFL Officiating Academy. the NYCHA Annual continued on page 2 Resident Art Show. 2 August 2010 The Housing Authority Journal The Mayor’s Message One of the most impressive qualities about this city is New Yorkers’ members helped organize more than commitment to helping their neighbors. So when President Obama called 35 Resident Green Committees (RGCs), for a new era of service in our nation, we knew we had to answer the call. which have attracted more than 800 And we did by launching NYC Service, the first coordinated effort by any volunteers. These RGCs work with public American city to channel volunteers to meet local needs. housing residents to improve energy In its first year of operation, NYC Service engaged New Yorkers in a wide awareness and on the importance of range of volunteer activities. For example, earlier this summer, volunteers recycling and maintaining green spaces. spent time at NYCHA developments, planting vegetables and flowers in Five RGCs even have received grants for community gardens. Through NYC Service, volunteers have trained more beautification projects that will help clean and green public housing facilities. than 50,000 New Yorkers in CPR; educated more than 4,000 students on In total, the efforts of NYC Civic Corps have led to 60,000 new volunteers emergency preparedness; sent more than 3,000 care packages to New being recruited, who went on to help more than 700,000 people. We will be Yorkers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan; and painted 225,000 square feet adding thousands more people to this effort in the coming months. of rooftop with reflective paint to help buildings lower their energy costs. After launching NYC Service, we heard from cities and nonprofits across The NYC Civic Corps is the centerpiece program of NYC Service. A the country who wanted us to share our model. So last year, we met with first-of-its-kind program, NYC Civic Corps recruits people through the mayors from 16 other cities and formed a new coalition, Cities of Service, Americorps VISTA program to work at nonprofits and public agencies so and signed a pledge to work together to make volunteering a priority. they can help those organizations use more volunteers – and use them more Cities of Service now has grown to 100 members, and together we represent effectively – to assist New Yorkers in need. more than 46 million Americans. I encourage all of you to be a part of this During the first year of the program, Civic Corps members expanded the growing volunteerism movement. To find more than 1,000 opportunities to volunteer capacity at more than 50 organizations throughout the city. This serve your community and make a difference, go to www.nyc.gov, or call 311. includes NYCHA, where a program was created and expanded for resident volunteers to make housing complexes more sustainable. The Civic Corps Michael R. Bloomberg continued from page 1 continued from page 1 6,500 Section 8 Vouchers Saved NYCHA Residents Train to Earn Their Stripes allows a record number of reasonable share of their Academy is for youths ages will have a major head start.” the courage to compete and families to receive assistance income in rent each month to 17-24, and the majority of the The NFL employs 119 conflict resolution.” from New York City’s com- a participating landlord, and 65 participants must (and do) officials in what essentially is a NFL referees earn between bined Section 8 programs.” NYCHA makes up the differ- live in a NYCHA development. high-octane, seasonal job (July $40,000 and $100,000 per NYCHA’s citywide Section 8 ence. The subsidy paid to the The Academy, the first of through January). Wayne S. year. However, the league voucher program is the largest landlord usually is between its kind in the nation, runs for Mackie, Director of Operations considers refereeing a part- in the nation, with more than 30% of the household income eight weeks and prepares par- for the New York City Depart- time career and seeks officials 100,000 tenants and more than and the contract rent. ticipants for jobs as communi- ment of Housing Preservation who are successful in other 33,000 landlords. Participants While the plan saved these ty league officials. At the end and Development (HPD), just aspects of their lives. in the Section 8 program, also 6,000 vouchers, the Housing of the program, the aspiring completed his third season Beyond the life lessons and known as the Housing Choice Authority is not accepting any officials will take a certification with the NFL as a Head Lines- career opportunities inherent Voucher program, pay a new Section 8 applications. test and have the opportunity man. Mr. Mackie, the only in the Academy’s program, Comments? Questions? E-mail [email protected]. to referee local recreational current NFL official from New representatives from NYCHA and high school games. York City and a former resident and the NFL also stressed its new york city housing authority NYCHA’s Office of Public- of Brooklyn’s Linden Houses, networking and mentorship 76 Private Partnerships and began his officiating career in possibilities. Both organiza- years NYCHA of Public Housing Department of Community the local community and high tions are discussing providing NYCHA in New York City Journal Operations closely worked school leagues the Academy’s internships at the NFL’s head- ESTABLISHED 1970 • CIRCULATION 200,000 with the NFL to establish this graduates will enter. The fee quarters, as well as bringing Published monthly by the New York City Housing Authority unique training effort. an official can earn at the lower the Academy’s top performers Department of Communications “I was interested in officiat- levels varies depending on the to the Pro Bowl. Most of the 250 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007 ing before I ever found out players’ age group, competi- NFL’s officials are experienced Tel (212) 306-3322 • Fax (212) 577-1358 about the program,” said Nate tive level and what state they professionals off the field who nyc.gov/nycha Michael R. Bloomberg ���������������������������������������� Mayor Howard, 21, who lives in Ham- are in. It can be $10 for youth could serve as valuable role John B.