October 8, 2021

Press Office: hpdmedia@hpd.nyc.gov

Housing Career Pathways RFP seeks a workforce provider to implement groundbreaking, scalable program to connect New Yorkers to careers in affordable housing

NEW YORK – Today, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) issued a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a workforce provider to refine and implement the new Housing Career Pathways initiative, which seeks to train and connect New Yorkers with low incomes to a range of quality, permanent jobs with career pathways in the affordable housing industry. The selected provider will work with Enterprise, HPD, NYCHA, and a broader set of partners to refine a curriculum for an affordable housing-specific workforce development initiative and implement the first cohort of the program.

“Equitable access to well-paying, stable employment is a critical tool in our toolbox as we fight to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build decent and affordable housing,” said Vicki Been, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development. “Thank you to our great partners at Enterprise for spearheading this promising initiative; I look forward to seeing the proposals”.

“Through YOUR Home NYC, HPD is on track to build or preserve 300,000 affordable homes by 2026, production that also generates thousands of jobs each year. By hiring in the community, Housing Career Pathways will help drive economic recovery in neighborhoods where we build affordable housing,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “I want to thank Enterprise and all of our partners for planning and designing this groundbreaking program.”

“As New York City continues its robust affordable housing development each year, we must take advantage of the economic engine that housing creates to further economic advancement for the communities this housing serves,” said, Michelle Mulcahy, Director, Public Housing and Vulnerable Populations, Enterprise Community Partners. “Housing Career Pathways equips low-income New Yorkers with the skills required for careers in the affordable housing industry. Enterprise thanks HPD, NYCHA and all our partners for bringing this important program to fruition.”  

“Economic justice begins with the development of strong skills, opportunities to gain experience through on the job internships and a fair shot at high paying jobs, said Maggie Austin, Senior Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises “HPD’s investment in Housing Career Pathways brings all of these elements together in a way that will enable New Yorkers to improve their futures while building the City of tomorrow.”

“New York City’s dire need for affordable housing coupled with the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic represent an unprecedented moment to increase access for NYCHA residents interested in stable, long-term construction and property management careers in our City’s affordable housing market,” said Sideya Sherman, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity and EVP for Community Engagement and Partnerships, NYCHA. “We applaud HPD and Enterprise Community Partners for lending their knowledge and resources to develop the Housing Career Pathways initiative, and look forward to working with both organizations to connect NYCHA residents to these exciting opportunities in the months to come.”

Housing Career Pathways aims to deliver a skills training program that helps affordable housing organizations address some of their unmet staffing needs by sourcing hires from the communities they serve through their housing portfolios, and at the same time, offer new career path opportunities to job-seeking residents. The initiative also seeks to help individuals and communities historically earning lower wages access entry-level, administrative roles that can lead to higher-skill, better-paying jobs within property management.

Enterprise Community Partners, in collaboration with HPD and NYCHA, 18 housing providers, and 3 workforce providers, conducted the initial research and design for Housing Career Pathways. The winner of the RFP will be tasked with refining the program and curriculum, recruiting participants, and launching the first cohort with classroom training, internships, and job placements as well as post-placement and career advancement support. By the end of the pilot program, the workforce development partner will provide an assessment to inform the replication and scaling for this innovative program.

Applicants will be evaluated based on their experience in job training and job placement for New Yorkers with low incomes in an industry-specific program, program approach, budget reasonableness, experience in creating curriculums, and demonstrated expertise in working with local employers.

Interested workforce providers can view the RFP materials and apply using the link here. The deadline to apply is Monday, November 8, 2021.

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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked advancing the goals of the City’s housing plan – a critical pillar of Your Home NYC, Mayor de Blasio’s comprehensive approach to helping New Yorkers get, afford, and keep housing in these challenging times. For full details visit nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing

Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make​ a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $44 billion and created 781,000 homes across all 50 states – all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging. Join us at enterprisecommunity.org.​

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) (“NYCHA” or the “Authority”) provides affordable housing to 380,299 authorized residents in over 177,611 apartments within 335 housing developments. NYCHA serves 359,593 authorized residents in over 168,100 apartments within 285 housing developments through the conventional public housing program (Section 9) and 20,706 authorized residents in 9,511 units within 50 developments that have been converted to PACT/RAD. Through federal rent subsidies (Section 8 Leased Housing Program), NYCHA also assists approximately 77,663 families in locating and renting units. In addition, NYCHA facilitates access to social services through a variety of programs. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycha, and for regular updates on NYCHA news and services, connect with us via www.facebook/nycha and www.twitter.com/NYCHA