Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2019

CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov

NYCHA TO PROVIDE WORK ORDER REPAIRS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS IN SATURDAY BLITZ

NEW YORK – Today, on her first official day as Interim Chair and CEO, Kathryn Garcia joined New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) staff for its ongoing Saturday blitz effort. Maintenance and property management staff were available at developments across the City to quickly perform repairs and assist public housing residents.

“NYCHA is working to preserve public housing through efforts like its successful Saturday Blitzes,” said NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Kathryn Garcia. “Thanks to leadership from Mayor Bill de Blasio, we are making sure housing remains affordable for the over 380,000 residents that call NYCHA home. I look forward to working with General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo as we incorporate solutions to bring progress, repairs, and assistance to NYCHA families.”

“We continued our successful Saturday blitz initiative today at six developments across the City, providing nearly 1,000 work order repairs and addressing the needs of hundreds of our residents thanks to the dedication of our hardworking staff.” said NYCHA General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo. “NYCHA is focused on being a better landlord and that means we will continue to find ways to better serve our residents and bring real improvements to their homes.”
 
Previously, staff closed nearly 6,000 maintenance work orders and completed more than 1,100 annual income recertifications at over 35 developments citywide during the Authority’s prior Saturday blitzes. 

While NYCHA developments have limited staffing during weekends, staff is addressing the maintenance work order backlog at Queensbridge South Houses in Queens, Grant, Drew-Hamilton, and Lincoln Houses in Manhattan, Red Hook West Houses in Brooklyn and Highbridge Gardens in the Bronx.

Regular and extra staff are on site from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 16. Also, Housing Assistants are available at the respective management offices to help residents with their annual income recertifications.

Efforts like the Saturday blitz initiative and the expansion of NYCHA Cares – a $20 million initiative funded by the de Blasio administration to tackle the skilled trades backlogs – make up major components of NYCHA 2.0, a plan to ensure quality affordable housing for all NYCHA residents.

These work orders do not include emergency health and safety repairs, which are addressed immediately by the Authority.

About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

NYCHA’s mission is to increase opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers by providing safe, affordable housing and facilitating access to social and community services. Over 390,000 New Yorkers reside in NYCHA’s 316 public housing developments and PACT/RAD developments formerly managed by NYCHA around the five boroughs. Over 190,000 receive subsidized rental assistance in private homes through the NYCHA-administered Section 8 Leased Housing Program. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycha, and for regular updates on NYCHA news and services, connect with us via  www.facebook.com/NYCHA and www.twitter.com/NYCHA.