Senate Majority Bolsters Support for New York City Public Housing

Passage of legislation makes NYCHA eligible to receive millions in federal funding.

To protect New York’s 400,000 residents of public housing, the Senate Majority today passed S6430A (Squadron) making the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) eligible for an immediate infusion of $400 million in capital funding. Under the legislation, New York City’s deficit plagued housing authority will also be able to draw $75 million annually in federal funds for perpetuity.

"NYCHA historically has been the backbone of affordable housing for tens of thousands of low-income, working families. These millions of Federal dollars in capital and operational funds will significantly improve the quality of life of these 20,000 households through sorely needed modernization of kitchens and bathrooms and upgrades and repairs to building lobbies, elevators, roofs, boilers and other parts of the aging infrastructure,” said State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr. who also serves as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development. 

“In addition, these Federal funds will serve as an infusion to the city’s economy by creating business for small contracting companies and new jobs for local residents. Federalizing these 20,000 public housing units eliminates the economic burden on the state budget to fund NYCHA’s capital and operational projects. Furthermore, tenants in these 20,000 apartments will receive the same benefits of Federal dollars that tens of thousands of other long-time 'federalized' NYCHA units enjoy,” added Sen. Espada, a product of Bronx public housing.