Copy of IMG 9786

Dec 2018

NYCHA’S Crisis

A Matter For All New Yorkers

Decades of neglect and underinvestment by all levels of government—federal, state and city—have led to the current crisis facing the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
NYCHA building
If NYC lost just 10% of its public housing, almost 40,000 people would need to find another home. For most, finding an affordable home within the city’s private housing market would be next to impossible.
NYCHA map

More than 400,000 New Yorkers live in over 300 NYCHA developments across the city.

NYCHA houses 01
NYCHA houses 02
IMG 0743

Without public housing, we have no ability to make a dent in the housing crisis that exists in the rest of the city. If we want to preserve New York City as a place where a broad and diverse range of people can afford to live, the place to start is with preserving our public housing, returning it to a state of good repair, and ending the crisis in NYCHA.

1

The Value of NYCHA

NYCHA chinatown park
There are a total of 189 acres of open space for recreational use on NYCHA developments throughout the five boroughs.
IMG 0485
NYCHA Residents spend over 2 billion dollars a year, much of it in the local neighborhoods, contributing to the economy and supporting local businesses.
2

A Deteriorating Portfolio

NYCHA sandy sign
3

The Cost of Doing Nothing

2018 income limits and rents for affordable housing

60% of Area Median Income (AMI) is the most common income level for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) housing. The average family income for NYCHA residents is $24,423

Family Size30% of AMI40% of AMI50% of AMI60% of AMI70% of AMI80% of AMI100% of AMI120% of AMI130% of AMI
1$21,930$29,240$36,550$43,860$58,480$73,100$87,720$95,030$120,615
2$25,050$33,400$41,750$50,100$66,800$83,500$100,200$108,550$137,775
3$28,170$37,560$46,950$56,340$75,120$93,900$112,680$122,070$154,935
4$31,290$41,720$52,150$62,580$83,440$104,300$125,160$135,590$172,095
5$33,810$45,080$56,350$67,620$90,160$112,700$135,240$146,510$185,955
6$36,300$48,400$60,500$72,600$96,800$121,000$145,200$157,300$199,650

The chart below shows how much rent is considered affordable for each apartment size. The average NYCHA rent is $522.

Unit Size30% of AMI40% of AMI50% of AMI60% of AMI70% of AMI80% of AMI100% of AMI120% of AMI130% of AMI
Studio$367$524$680$837$1,040$1,197$1,510$1,823$1,979
One-bedroom$471$667$863$1,058$1,313$1,509$1,900$2,292$2,487
Two-bedroom$575$810$1,045$1,280$1,585$1,820$2,289$2,759$2,993
Three-bedroom$658$929$1,200$1,472$1,824$2,096$2,638$3,181$3,452

source: NYC Housing Preservation and Development and NYCHA 2018 Fact Sheet

The Challenge Ahead

Acknowledgements

Graphics and Layout by

Dave Zackin
Graphic Designer, RPA

Produced With

Vic Bach
Community Service Society
Ingrid Gould Ellen
Furman Center
Rachel Fee
New York Housing Conference
Maxine Griffith*
Columbia University
David Jones
Community Service Society
Anaita Kasad*
Guidehouse
Jill Lerner*
KPF
Michelle Mulcahy
Enterprise
Jeff Nelson
RxR
Seth Pinsky*
RxR
Marc Ricks*
Vornado
Paula Segal
Urban Justice Center
Anthony Shorris*
Princeton University
*RPA Board Members

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