preserving city and state developmentshud’s resident ...2 the housing authority journal november...

Vol. 36, No. 11 www.nyc.gov/nycha NOVEMBER 2006

IN EARLY NOVEMBER THE U.S. DEPART-MENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVEL-OPMENT (HUD) WILL BEGIN SENDING

OUT ITS ANNUAL RESIDENT SERVICE AND

SATISFACTION SURVEY (RASS) TO

GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT RESIDENT

SATISFACTION WITH LIVING CONDITIONS

IN PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

ACROSS THE NATION.

The RASS is part of HUD’s com-mitment to monitor the perfor-mance of public housing author-ities through its annual PublicHousing Assessment System(PHAS). In addition to assessingcustomer satisfaction, the PHASalso evaluates the physical condition of the developments,the Authorities’ financial health, management, operations and res-ident services.

The survey includes questionscovering maintenance andrepair, communication, safety,services and neighborhoodappearance.

It will be sent to a randomsampling of New York City Hous-ing Authority (NYCHA) residentswho live in NYCHA’s 322 feder-ally funded developments. Allanswers will be kept confiden-tial and anonymous. NYCHA willnot know who participated inthe survey but will only receivethe scores.

The survey accounts for 10out of the 100 points it is pos-sible for a public housing author-ity to receive under the PHAS.Housing authorities whichreceive scores over 90 on thePHAS are considered “High Per-formers” and qualify for addi-tional capital funding.

NYCHA urges all residentswho receive the survey to com-plete it.

HUD’S RESIDENT SERVICE AND SATISFACTION SURVEY

THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY (NYCHA) JOINED THE CITY’S

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (HPD), THE

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (HDC), AND THE DEVELOPER,BRONX PRO REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT, TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF

PHASE I OF THE UNIVERSITY MACOMBS APARTMENTS IN THE MORRIS

HEIGHTS SECTION OF THE BRONX ON SEPTEMBER 26TH. Stakeholders gath-ered together on the rooftop terrace of the brand new building at 1605University Avenue under a clear blue sky, soaking up the sun and wordsof mutual thanks for the contribution each made to the project. The $27.5million phase encompassed the renovation of four buildings, previouslyowned by NYCHA, and the new construction of a beautiful 30-unit,handicapped accessible building on what was once a NYCHA-ownedvacant lot, where the event was held.

The work brings a total of 206new units of affordable housingto Mayor Michael R.Bloomberg’s New Housing Mar-ketplace plan, which seeks to cre-ate or preserve 165,000 units ofaffordable housing in the city by2013; 6,000 of those units

through a NYCHA, HPD, HDCcollaboration.

With NYCHA’s SedgwickHouses towering in the back-ground, Chairman Tino Hernandezpromised, “The innovativeapproach we have taken here to

PAGE 2NEW HOMEOWNERS AT OCEAN BAY

PAGE 4HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPSFROM CHIEF JAFFE

The Williamsburg Community Center in Brooklyn was the site forNYCHA’s 44th Annual Garden Competition Awards Ceremony heldon September 29th. NYCHA resident gardeners from all boroughsgathered in the glass-enclosed community center to receive acknowl-edgement and praise for their efforts as well as awards for the bestamong the 567 Flower, Vegetable and Children’s Theme Gardens inthe competition this year. Chairman Hernandez called the event,“a beautiful reminder of the contributions the people who reside atNYCHA make to our city.” Turn to page 11 for a full list of the winners. Above is the Citywide Winner in the Flower Garden category:The “Renew Your Spirit Garden” from Sheepshead-Nostrand Housesin Brooklyn.

ACCESS NYC! New York City residents have a newway to find out about potential eligibility for over 20 healthand human service programs and tax credits. ACCESS NYCis an online public screening tool that is available onwww.nyc.gov. It’s free, simple, easy to use and anonymous.Log on or call 311 to find out if you are eligible for the EarnedIncome Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and more...

UUNNIIVVEERRSS II TTYY MMAACCOOMMBBSS BBRRIINNGGSS MMOORREEAAFFFFOORRDDAABBLLEE HHOOUUSSIINNGG TTOO TTHHEE BBRROONNXX

PAGE 3NEW PRE-APPRENTICESHIPSTO BEGIN IN JANUARY

IN SEPTEMBER AND EARLY OCTOBER, NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY

(NYCHA) STAFF MET WITH RESIDENTS FROM 21 UNSUBSIDIZED CITY AND STATE

DEVELOPMENTS TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS OF NYCHA’S PROPOSAL TO TRANSITION

8,400 APARTMENTS IN THESE BUILDINGS FROM PUBLIC HOUSING TO THE SECTION

8 PROGRAM. If the plan is approved by the U.S. Department of Hous-ing and Urban Development (HUD), NYCHA will still own, manage andmaintain these buildings and units; however, the 8,400 apartmentswill be subsidized by the federal Section 8 program. Participation inthe program by residents of the City and State developments is vol-untary. In most cases, for residents who choose to participate,rents will remain the same at 30% of the family’s income. The Sec-tion 8 subsidy that would be received for these units, combinedwith rent, is estimated to be enough to close the operating deficit forthe 21 developments.

The transition is needed to pre-serve the 21 developments ashousing for low-income New York-ers. Once subsidized by the Cityor State, these developments nolonger receive a City or Statesubsidy. NYCHA has long been

using its already inadequate fed-eral subsidy to cover the gapbetween the rent collected andthe total operating costs. In April2005, when the Section 8 tran-sition proposal was announced

Preserving City and State DevelopmentsWith New Section 8 Funding Stream

TEAM WORK Banco Popular’s Alvaro Ortiz, HPD CommissionerShaun Donovan, Assembly Member Aurelia Greene, Enterprise Direc-tor Jim Himes, NYCHA Chairman Tino Hernandez, Bronx Pro PresidentPeter Magistro, HUD’s Mirza Negron Morales, and NYCHA Vice-ChairEarl Andrews, Jr. at “The Elizabeth.”

44th Annual Garden Awards

(Continued on page 5)

By Eileen Elliott


By Eileen Elliott

2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNALNOVEMBER 2006

ESTABLISHED 1970 • CIRCULATION 200,000

Published monthly by the New York City Housing AuthorityDepartment of Communications

250 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007Tel (212) 306-3322 • Fax (212) 577-1358

nyc.gov/nycha

Michael R. Bloomberg...........................................Mayor

Tino Hernandez.......................................................................................ChairmanEarl Andrews, Jr. ............................................................................Vice-ChairmanMargarita López .............................................................................Board MemberVilma Huertas..........................................................................................SecretaryDouglas Apple.............................................................................General ManagerSheila Greene.......................................Director, Department of CommunicationsEileen Elliott .................................................................................................EditorHeidi Morales ....................................................................Editor, Spanish EditionAllan Leicht .........................................................................................Staff WriterDeborah Williams ................................................................................Staff WriterPeter Mikoleski, Kevin Devoe............................................................Photography

If you are interested in placing an advertisement in the Journal, pleasecall our marketing representatives in Marketing and Revenue Operationsat (212) 306-6616. The inclusion of any advertisement in this Journaldoes not constitute any endorsement by the Housing Authority of theadvertiser or its products or services or any other representation by theHousing Authority with respect to such products or services.

The Housing Authority

Journal 72years

of Public Housingin New York City

Strengthening the Literacyand Language Skills of New Yorkers

IMPROVING THE LITERACY AND LAN-GUAGE SKILLS OF NEW YORKERS —BOTH YOUNG AND OLD — IS CRITICAL

TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND

THE CITY’S FUTURE PROSPERITY. Rec-ognizing this, I was pleased to joinDeputy Mayor for Education andCommunity Development DennisM. Walcott at a reception on Octo-ber 12th in honor of the City’s firstannual Adult Education Day. At thattime I was also pleased to announcethe creation of the City’s new Officeof Adult Education.

The Office of Adult Education isdedicated to strengthening the field

of adult education in New York City. The Office will help expand anddevelop adult educational opportunities throughout the five boroughsto help adult New Yorkers improve literacy and language skills, open-ing the door for more career opportunities and economic success.

Established within Deputy Mayor Walcott’s office, the Office of AdultEducation will coordinate policy across a variety of agencies and pro-mote best practices. These agencies include the Department of Youthand Community Development, the Human Resources Administration,the Department of Education, the Department of Corrections, the CityUniversity of New York, and the Brooklyn, New York and Queens Pub-lic Libraries, in coordination with the Mayor’s Commission on Eco-nomic Opportunity. The Office of Adult Education also looks forward toworking closely with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)to increase educational opportunities for NYCHA residents.

In addition to City agencies, the Office will also work with a range ofState and federal agencies to enhance adult education programs.

Among its initial priorities, the Office will focus on strengtheningeducational services provided to inmates on Rikers Island and to ex-offenders upon their reentry into the community. New educational tele-vision programming — intended to reach hundreds of thousands ofNew Yorkers — will also be created to strengthen the impact andexpand the reach of adult education programs.

To support the new Office, I have allocated an additional $5 millionin new federal funding for adult education in fiscal year 2007. Thesefunds will help designated community based organizations that lostState funding earlier this year. The funding will also underwrite thedevelopment of model programs designed to help prepare adult literacystudents for health care job training programs. The new federal fundingsupplements $30 million in existing City funding and another $20 mil-lion in federal funds already in the budget that the City allocates toadult education.

We’re committed to providing quality adult education programsthroughout our City — so that parents can play an active role in theirchildren’s education and adults can gain the skills they need for careeradvancement.

For more information on the Office of Adult Education, please visitwww.nyc.gov/adult-ed.

Michael R. Bloomberg

MAYOR’S MESSAGE HOPE VI

Ocean Bay HOPE VI Homeownership Opportunities!

FIVE FORMER NEW YORK CITY HOUS-ING AUTHORITY (NYCHA) FAMILIES

HAVE MADE THE AMERICAN DREAM

COME TRUE — THEY HAVE BECOME

HOMEOWNERS WITH THE HELP OF THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND

URBAN DEVELOPMENT’S (HUD’S)HOPE VI REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR

OCEAN BAY. NYCHA celebratedthe completion of Phase I of thePlan in October 2003, which con-sisted of the modernization of1,803 apartments and the renam-ing of Arverne and EdgemereHouses to Ocean Bay Apartments.

As part of Phase II, NYCHA iscollaborating with the nonprofitMargert Community Corporationon the Ocean Bay HOPE VIHomeownership Program to pro-vide NYCHA residents with theinformation they will need tobecome successful homeowners.

Margert’s Director of Home-ownership Services StephanieLawes said that by using the basicinformation provided by Margert,participants can “begin to rebuildcredit and establish mortgagereadiness with full knowledge ofthe home mortgage loan process.”The Margert Community Corpora-tion also provides the assistance ofexperienced budget and creditcounselors to help NYCHA resi-dents move towards making home-ownership a reality.

Homeowner Yajaira Almanzar

Yajaira Almanzar, formerly a res-ident of Ocean Bay Houses, tookadvantage of this opportunity. Aftera three year wait for a NYCHAapartment and two years as aNYCHA resident, Ms. Almanzardecided that this was her chance toat least try to accomplish her Amer-ican dream of owning a home.

“I thought to myself, I am youngand I still have the energy to strug-gle. If for some reason I had tostart over I could.” And so began ayear-and-a-half of hard work asMs. Almanzar prepared for home-ownership, fulfilling the require-ments set out by the HOPE VIHomeownership Program.

Ms. Almanzar spent a lot oftime working, saving money andattending the homeownershiptraining taught by Margert profes-sionals. Overall, she said theprocess was easy but long, mainlybecause of the paperwork involvedand the approval processes. How-ever, she said, “There was a lot ofcommunication and orientationand the process was transparent.We received copies of the docu-ments we signed and everythingwas thoroughly explained to us.”Ms. Almanzar said there wereeven translators available to helppotential buyers. “There was a lot

By Heidi Morales of help available and this was themost affordable way [to pur-chase a home]. I mean rent in the developments is affordable but it’sstill rent.”

Although she said her experi-ence as a NYCHA resident wasgood, Ms. Almanzar is looking for-ward to the freedom and space thatcomes with owning your ownhome. So, what’s next for Ms.Almanzar? “I want to close thebackyard and create a place for mykids to play.”

HOPE VI in Far Rockaway

The national HOPE VI programhas been used by other cities toreplace large housing develop-ments with smaller clusters of pub-lic housing that are more dispersedamong neighborhoods, and withhomes for rent and purchase. TheOcean Bay HOPE VI Plan isunique because it did not includethe demolition of existing housing.

Instead, along with the apart-ment modernization, the Planincludes the renovation of allbuilding facades, rehabilitationand expansion of the Oceanside(formerly Arverne) Day Care Cen-ter, renovations of the OceansideSenior Center, as well as the instal-

lation of new sewers and land-scaped improvements.

There’s Still a Chance for You!

Through the HOPE VI program,NYCHA will continue to offerhomeownership subsidies for upto eight more families who meetincome guidelines and completethe application process. Eachqualified NYCHA family willreceive $25,000 to buy a new orexisting home located in NewYork City. These funds are avail-able on a first-come, first-servedbasis. The applicant is responsiblefor finding the home to purchase.Potential buyers must also suc-cessfully complete the Homeown-ership Preparation Program forNYCHA residents administeredby Margert.

First priority for the purchase ofhomes is given to NYCHA OceanBay residents. Second priority isgiven to other NYCHA residentsof the Rockaways, and third prior-ity is extended to NYCHA resi-dents outside of the Rockaways.NYCHA residents interested inmore information should reach outto the Margert Community Corpo-ration at: 718-471-3724.

New York City Police DepartmentToll-Free Terrorism Hotline Reports May Be Made To:

1-888-NYC-SAFE1-888-692-7233

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 3NOVEMBER 2006

Giving Seniors The ResourcesThey Need to Stay Healthy

NYCHA’S SECOND ANNUAL

SENIOR BENEFIT AND ENTITLE-MENT FAIR WAS A RESOUNDING

SUCCESS. Over 1,000 NYCHAseniors attended the daylongexpo at Riverbank State Park onOctober 5th to learn about themany programs and services thatexist exclusively for seniors. TheFair was hosted by the staff ofNYCHA’s Resident Support Ser-vices in cooperation with River-bank State Park and the NorthRiver Community Environmen-tal Review Board. It was pro-duced in consultation with theCenters for Medicare and Med-icaid Services (CMS), the SocialSecurity Administration (SSA)

and the New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA). NYCHAwas proud to take the lead on this great event, which focused thisyear on “Getting Healthy and Staying Healthy.”

Seniors who attended the Fair took advantage of a wealth of infor-mation from approximately 30 different service providers divided upinto seven areas: Senior Support Agencies; Getting Healthy;Medicare, Social Security and New York State’s EPIC PrescriptionDrug Program; NYCHA Senior IDs; Transportation, MedicareHMOs; and Medical Information and Nutrition.

There was information on services available for seniors throughthe City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Ameri-can Diabetes Association. The various Medicare HMOs were repre-sented and there was information on Medicare’s Part D provision forprescription drugs. There was an extensive choice of medical screen-ings, from blood pressure and prostate screening to cholesterol andfoot care. And seniors who did not have a photo ID before the Fairwere able to obtain one.

Perhaps the most important piece of literature at the Fair was thebrochure published by NYCHA Resident Support Services — andfor those of you who were unable to attend, the brochure is still avail-able. The back of the brochure lists the names of the participatingagencies and organizations, along with their telephone numbers. Iurge every NYCHA senior and everyone who knows a senior (andthat includes just about everyone at NYCHA) to get a hold of thisvery useful brochure while supplies last by calling Resident SupportServices at 212-306-8443.

I also encourage all seniors to assume they are eligible for any ofthe services or programs offered by the agencies and organizationslisted in the brochure until they are told otherwise. As one speakerat the Fair advised with regard to eligibility forms, “When in doubt,fill it out.”

To those who were at the NYCHA Senior Benefit and EntitlementFair this year and to the many more who will come next year — goodhealth and long life.

Tino Hernandez

DEBORAH’S DIARY By Deborah WilliamsCHAIRMAN’S MESSAGENew NYCHA Scholarship Winners — Con-

gratulations to the latest New York City HousingAuthority (NYCHA)/City University of NewYork (CUNY) Scholarship Winners! They are:Christine Camacho, a resident of St. Mary’s Park

Houses and student at Queens College majoringin Studio Art; Livia Clinton, a resident of King Tow-

ers and student at Hunter College majoring in English/Cre-ative Writing; Krystle Collado, a resident of Kingsborough Housesand student at Baruch College majoring in English Literature; WingNga Ho, a resident of Wald Houses and student at Brooklyn Collegemajoring in Music Performance; Maria Mercedes, a resident ofOcean Bay Houses and student at Brooklyn College majoring inSpanish Literature; and Joselin Pichardo, a resident of BronxdaleHouses and student at Lehman College majoring in MultilingualJournalism. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship towardstheir tuition. Scholarships are granted to authorized NYCHA resi-dents who are enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree programin film, drama, dance, journalism, literature or any of the arts, at anyCUNY college, have a grade point average of 3.0 or above, anddemonstrate financial need.

The NYCHA/CUNY Scholarship Fund was established in 2005,and has been funded by contributions made by television and moviestudios that have filmed on NYCHA property. Money for the schol-arship fund is also contributed by Ms. Teresa Mann, a formeremployee, who worked for NYCHA for 14 years. Ms. Mann took itupon herself to generously donate $100.00 a month for the “childrenof NYCHA.” A total of 16 scholarships have been awarded to date.

Applications for the scholarships are available atwww.cuny.edu/nychascholarship. Remember, scholarships are lim-ited. Congratulations to all the recipients of the NYCHA/CUNYScholarship. I am glad to see you are maintaining your 3.0 aver-ages. Please keep up the good work!

SEE YOU IN JANUARY!The next NYCHA Journal will be

a combined December/January issue and will be available in early

January 2007. Until then, stay safe and enjoy the holidays!

Visit The Residents’ Corner

on NYCHA’s Web site atwww.nyc.gov/nycha

THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING

AUTHORITY (NYCHA) IS ON TRACK

TO MOVE AHEAD WITH A PRE-APPREN-TICESHIP PROGRAM THROUGH A NEW

COLLABORATION WITH CONSTRUC-TION SKILLS 2000, OR CS2K, BEGIN-NING IN JANUARY 2007. The purposeof the pre-apprenticeship programis to ensure that participating residents are properly prepared for highly skilled and well-paid apprenticeships as carpenters,painters, plasterers, laborers,plumbers and electricians, depend-ing on the individual’s qualifica-tions. Three-hundred NYCHAresidents will receive slots asapprentices over the course of thenext three years.

The pre-apprenticeship programis one component of NYCHA’sConstruction Management Buildor “CM/Build” program, imple-mented in 2003. CM/Build uses private construction manage-ment companies to oversee major capital projects. The goal is notonly to improve the quality of thework done on NYCHA’s capitalprojects, but also to provideemployment opportunities in theconstruction trades for NYCHAresidents.

That’s where CS2K comes in.Each Construction Manager, or“CM,” is responsible for the cre-ation of pre-qualified bidders’lists. The bidders on these lists arerequired to participate in State-approved apprenticeship programswhich will hire NYCHA residentsas apprentices. CS2K prepares res-idents for these apprenticeshipprograms as well as matching pre-apprentices with available appren-ticeship slots that best meet theresidents’ skills, aptitudes andindividual goals.

Under the administration of NYCHA’s Department of Res-ident Employment Services,CS2K will provide recruitment,assessment, training and support-ive services to qualified HousingAuthority residents. Training willinclude an overview of varioustrades, safety, the identificationand handling of constructionindustry tools, physical f itness,professional development andwork readiness, counseling, casemanagement and simulated on-the-job training. CS2K will alsowork with apprentices for oneyear following enrollment inapprenticeship programs.

CS2K is a non-profit educa-tional corporation chartered toaddress training and employmentissues affecting New York City’sbuilding and construction industry.To find out more, see the ad to theright of this article, or call the RESHotline at: 718-250-5904.

Pre-ApprenticeshipProgram Set To Begin in January


In this issue we continue our editorial policy of publishing the names ofindividuals who have been permanently excluded from our publichousing developments. The purpose of publishing this list is to keepresidents informed of the Housing Authority’s ongoing effort toimprove the quality of life for all New Yorkers in public housing and toallow for the peaceful and safe use of our facilities. Here follows a listof the people excluded after hearings were held on October 5, 12, and19, 2005. Please note: These exclusions are based on NYCHA’sAdministrative Hearing Process and should not be confused with the Trespass Notice Program under Mayor Bloomberg’sOperation Safe Housing Initiative.

REMEMBER,IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ON

HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY, PLEASE CALL YOURMANAGEMENT OFFICE OR NYCHA’S

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT AT (212) 306-8595.

Prohibited as of October 5, 2005Orlando Sanabria Case 6702/05 formerly associated with the fifth

floor of 510 East 156th Street, BronxchesterHouses, the Bronx.

Larry Miller Jr. Case 6738/05 formerly associated with thefourth floor of 200 West 143rd Street, DrewHamilton Houses, Manhattan.

Victor Ozuna Case 6848/05 formerly associated with thefourteenth floor of 304 East 156th Street,Melrose Houses, the Bronx.

Wesley Rosario Case 6860/05 formerly associated with the sixthfloor of 106-12 Farragut Road, BreukelenHouses, Brooklyn.

Laverne Benn Case 6859/05 formerly associated with thetwenty-ninth floor of 2999 Eighth Avenue, PoloGrounds Towers, Manhattan.

Darnell Anderson Case 6981/05 formerly associated with theDonnel Anderson fifth floor of 1165 East 229th Street, Edenwald

Houses, the Bronx.

Charmaine McCall Case 6977/05 formerly associated with the fifthfloor of 1173 East 229th Drive North, EdenwaldHouses, the Bronx.

Perry Frazier Case 7037/05 formerly associated with the sixthfloor of 296 Sutter Avenue, Brownsville Houses,Brooklyn.

Prohibited as of October 12, 2005Lisandro Perez Case 4919/05 formerly associated with the

fourth floor of 90 Columbia Street, BaruchHouses, Manhattan.

Rodney Greene Case 6905/05 formerly associated with thesecond floor of Drew Hamilton Houses,Manhattan.

Joshua Deleon Case 7100/05 formerly associated with thefourth floor of 225 Hoyt Street, GowanusHouses, Brooklyn.

Malik Nimmons Case 7140/05 formerly associated with the fifthfloor of 60 Glenmore Avenue, Howard Houses,Brooklyn.

Gregory Belton Case 7162/05 formerly associated with LamontPeebles the first floor of 30 Glenmore Avenue, Howard

Houses, Brooklyn.

Arturo Rivera Case 6871/05 formerly associated with the tenthfloor of 2926-2930 West 25th Street, SurfsideGardens, Brooklyn.

Prohibited as of October 19, 2005Sheldon Jackson Case 7032/05 formerly associated with the

seventh floor of 2819 Schley Avenue, ThroggsNeck Houses, the Bronx.

Zachary Townsend Case 7052/05 formerly associated with the sixthfloor of 427 West 17th Street, Fulton Houses,Manhattan.

Rashiem Sutton Case 7059/05 formerly associated with thefourth floor of 84-14 Rockaway Beach Blvd.,Hammel Houses, Queens.

Zerry Durham Jr. Case 7057/05 formerly associated with the sixthfloor of 38 Bush Street, Red Hook West Houses,Brooklyn.

Dwayne Tyler Case 2959/05 formerly associated with thesecond floor of 1725 Randall Avenue,Soundview Houses, the Bronx.

Jerome Lambert Case 7073/05 formerly associated with theMarvin Lambert sixth floor of 38 Bush Street, Red Hook WestPete Lambert Houses, Brooklyn.

Joseph Brevard Case 7193/05 formerly associated with thefourteenth floor of 200 West 143rd Street, DrewHamilton Houses, Manhattan.

THE NYCHA NOT WANTED LIST

as part of the Housing Author-ity’s Plan to Preserve PublicHousing, the cost of operatingthese developments accountedfor a full half of what was thenNYCHA’s $168 million budgetdeficit for 2006.

In addition to offering theSection 8 vouchers to currentCity and State development res-idents on a voluntary basis,NYCHA will also use Section 8vouchers to fill all units in those21 developments as theybecome vacant.

What Is Section 8?

Section 8, also known as theHousing Choice Voucher pro-gram, provides rent subsidies foreligible low-income familiesthrough the use of vouchers. Aswith the public housing program,participants pay 30% of theirincomes in rent. Section 8 paysthe difference between that 30%and the HUD-established FairMarket Rent.

Options

Residents who transition intothe Section 8 program have theoption of staying in their currentapartment or moving anywherewithin New York City, the UnitedStates or U.S. territories, as longas the landlord accepts Section 8.

“For the vast majority of ourfamilies, those that are paying30% of their income for rent, Sec-tion 8 provides the opportunityfor subsidized mobility,” saidNYCHA’s Deputy General Man-ager Peter Cantillo.

It is important to note thatSection 8 rents have a muchhigher ceiling than public hous-ing rents do; so a resident whois already paying ceiling rent mayhave to pay more under the Sec-tion 8 program.

“NYCHA’s proposed Section 8transition also presents anopportunity for those familieswho are already in appropriatelysized apartments to stay wherethey are now and then move laterif they choose,” said NYCHA’sDeputy General ManagerMichelle Pinnock. “Participantswho wish to move to federaldevelopments will move to thetop of the waiting list. Familieswho are living in overcrowdedapartments can split up and gettwo apartments. For them, it’sreally a win-win.”

Interested residents from Stateand City developments shouldcontact their Management Officeto be placed on a waiting list. IfHUD approval is received, thetransition process should beginnext year. Visit nyc.gov/nycha formore information.

New Section 8Funding Stream(Continued from page 1)

Holiday Safety Tips

Hello! As the holidays arefast approaching, the NewYork City Police Depart-

ment wants this holiday season tobe a safe and joyous one for all theresidents and employees of theNew York City Housing Authority.As a reminder, the following safetytips are being provided to ensure asafe holiday season.

— Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Criminalsoften confront people who are distracted.

— Travel on populated, well-lit streets. If possible, travel with a friend.

— Plan your purchases in advance and carry only the amount of cashnecessary for the purchase. If you must carry a large sum of money,divide the cash between your purse, pockets and wallet.

— If you are taking the subway, look for the red or green lights outsidethe entrance to determine if the entrance is open. A red light indicatesthe entrance is closed, while a green light indicates it is open.

— Carry purses close to the body. Place one end of the purse in thepalm of the hand and the other in the bend of the elbow. Never carry apurse by the handle or wrap the strap around your body.

— Place wallets in your front pants pockets or an inside jacket pocket.

— Don’t wait until you reach your front door to look for your keys.Have them ready ahead of time.

— Don’t buzz in someone who rings your bell until you have verifiedwho he or she is. This will help protect both yourself and your neigh-bors.

— Don’t allow unscheduled workers to gain access into your home.Criminals may pose as utility workers, NYCHA workers or as trades’people. Remember to always check a person’s identification especiallywhen you did not schedule any work.

CON ARTISTS...

It’s not only that time of the year for you to go shopping, but also forcon artists to start shopping for their next victim. Con artists use anumber of ploys to scam you and steal your property. One commonscam involves a couple of cohorts, one causing a commotion to divertyour attention while the other is picking your pocket. Still others con-duct more elaborate scams that may involve as many as seven conartists. A general rule to remember is, “IF IT SEEMS TOO GOODTO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.”

Have A Joyous And SafeHoliday Season!

Chief Joanne Jaffe

THE CHIEF’S CORNER

Housing Bureau Police Chief Joanne Jaffe


RAUL GARCIA OFTEN ASKS PARENTS TO CLOSE THEIR EYES AND IMAGINE A WORLD

WITHOUT AFTER-SCHOOL SERVICES. As the founding coordinator of the Out-of-School Time (OST) program at the Polo Grounds Towers in Harlem,Garcia knows that OST can have a dramatic impact on the lives ofyoung people and their parents. This is why he says he is not sur-prised when the parents quickly grimace, open their eyes, and tell himthat there are some things they would rather not think about.

Out-of-School Time ProgramOpportunities For Youth Citywide

create affordable housing will bereplicated in neighborhoods acrossthe city: at Betances Houses in theBronx, on Manhattan’s West Side,and in Staten Island.” He addedthat the partners had done an“absolutely spectacular job.”

At the time of the ribbon-cut-ting, 90% of the apartments in thefour rehabbed buildings werealready occupied. Forty-one of thefamilies are NYCHA residentswho lived in the buildings beforethe renovation and returned.

For the second phase of UNI-MAC, as the project has come tobe known, NYCHA will likewisetransfer three additional vacantbuildings to an affiliate of BronxPro’s for rehabilitation. Once thesebuildings are renovated, the totalcontribution of affordable housingunits for the Morris Heights neigh-borhood will be 321.

HPD Commissioner ShaunDonovan told the group, “This isthe very first project completed ina partnership with NYCHA, HPDand HDC, in the Mayor’s NewHousing Marketplace.” He com-mented that University Macombs“represents the best we canachieve with new construction foraffordable housing as well as reno-vation.” HPD’s role in the projectwas the administration of low-income housing tax credits and a$14 million construction loan inthe form of tax-exempt bondfinancing through HDC.

Bronx Pro President Peter Mag-istro was credited by all of thespeakers for his vision in the trans-formation of the block. The archi-tect for the project, Bob Santoriello,who served as the MC for the day,called the change in the neighbor-hood “a miracle,” saying that Mr.Magistro “deals in the currency ofhope and transformation.”

In addition to the contributionsmentioned above, Banco Popularand Wachovia Bank provided the let-ter of credit and Enterprise invested$9.7 million in tax credit equity.

A total of 10% of the units aredesignated for families that werehomeless, and 25% are for formerNYCHA residents and otherNYCHA referrals. The remainingunits are for households earningno more than $42,540, chosenthrough an HPD lottery.

Health Matters...Utilizing information from the City’s Department of Health andMental Hygiene’s Web site, the “Health Matters” column provides periodic updates on a variety of health concerns.

Diabetes Is EpidemicBut it can be prevented and controlled.• Diabetes is a serious illness that is increasing rapidly in New

York City and around the country. In just the past 10 years, thenumber of people with diabetes has doubled.

• 1 in 8 adult New Yorkers — about 800,000 people — has diabetes; a third of them don’t know it yet.

• People can often prevent diabetes by getting regular physicalactivity and maintaining a healthy weight.

• People with diabetes can successfully manage their illness —and lead longer and healthier lives.

Diabetes Is a Serious, Life-Long IllnessPeople with diabetes have trouble making or using insulin, causing glucose (sugar) to build up in the blood.

There are three major types:

Type 1 diabetes• Type 1 can develop at any age. It can be successfully

managed, but not prevented or cured.• About 5% of people with diabetes have Type 1.

Type 2 diabetes• Most people with diabetes have Type 2.• Physical activity and a healthy diet can often prevent or delay

Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes in pregnancy (gestational)• In New York City, gestational diabetes occurs in about 4%

of pregnant women. About half of these women will developType 2 diabetes within 10 years.

• If untreated or poorly controlled, gestational diabetes canharm a developing baby.

“Pre-diabetes” is a wake up call.• People with pre-diabetes have higher-than-normal blood sugar

levels.• They are more likely than those with normal blood sugar

levels to have a heart attack or stroke.• Unless they take steps to control their weight and increase

physical activity, most people with pre-diabetes will developType 2 diabetes.

Major Risk FactorsBeing overweight and not getting enough exercise are thebiggest risk factors. Others include:• Older age. The risk for Type 2 diabetes increases with age,

especially among people 65 and older. Being overweight andinactive can also lead to Type 2 diabetes in younger people,even kids.

• A family history of diabetes.• Having gestational diabetes or having a baby who weighs more

than 9 lbs.• Low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol or high levels of

triglycerides (fats) in the blood.• Race/ethnicity. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans,

Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders are at higher risk.

Diabetes Often Has No SymptomsMany people with diabetes have no symptoms, symptoms thatdevelop slowly over months or even years, or symptoms so mildthey go unnoticed. These may include:

• Frequent urination • Excessive thirst and hunger • Weight loss • Weakness andfatigue • Nausea and vomiting • Sudden vision changes • Tingling or numbness in hands or feet • Frequent or slow-healing sores or infections •Recurring vaginal yeast infections in women • Heart disease • Stroke • Eye problems and blindness • Kidney disease • Poor circulation • Nervedamage • Foot and leg problems, which can lead to amputation • Skin problems (infections, boils, scaly skin, itching) • Gum disease and otheroral health problems • Sexual dysfunction • Depression • Premature death

LEARN MORE For free diabetes materials, call 311 or visit:nyc.gov/health/diabetes

UNIVERSITYMACOMBS(Continued from page 1)

NYC Department of Youth and Community Development

The program Garcia helpedcreate — which is administeredby Alianza Dominicana, anacclaimed community basedorganization — engages youngresidents of the Polo Groundsand the surrounding communityin a wide variety of youth devel-opment activities that build onwhat they learn in school.

The OST initiative is led by theCity’s Department of Youth andCommunity Development (DYCD),

which develops, coordinates andimplements the programs, in col-laboration with 11 other Cityagencies. There are currently 31OST programs located at 25NYCHA locations. During thepast school year, more than2,149 young people participatedin these programs, in addition to813 who took advantage of sum-mer programming.

OST represents a bold new


Young OST participants at Alianza Dominicana in Harlem.

By Ryan Dodge

A renovated lobby at UniversityMacombs.


TRABAJOS!-JOBFREE TRAINING

GRATISSI HABLAS INGLES

SE NECECITA HOME HEALTH AIDE CON

CERTIFICADOS CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDES

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FREE TRAINING INTRUCCIONES GRATIS

BENEFITS AND CASHBONUSES

LEAVE A NUMBER WHERE WE CAN REACH YOU

SSTTAARRTT FFRREESSHH 212-505-1680

approach to providing youthdevelopment opportunitiesbeyond the final school bell.Mayor Michael R. Bloombergannounced the launch of OSTin September 2005, and it isestimated that more than65,000 young people will beserved by OST programs duringthe 2005-2006 school year,making it the nation’s largestmunicipally funded after-schoolinitiative. Its aim is to ensurethat quality after-school pro-gramming is available to allyouth in the City.

OST program instructorsdevelop close relationships withthe young people they serve,which allow them to designactivities that appeal to theentire group.

For example, the theme ofthis summer’s programming atthe Polo Grounds was “Our Heritage.” Field trips were orga-nized to various museums andcultural institutions, includingthe Jewish Museum, the AfricanBurial Ground, and the Museumof the American Indian. Theobjective was to help young par-ticipants develop a strongerappreciation for the great diver-sity and history of New York City.

OST is also a valuableresource for parents andguardians, who find comfort inthe knowledge that their chil-dren’s after school, holiday andsummer hours are being spentin a structured and nurturingenvironment.

For Garcia, the importance ofOST can be summed up with asimple fact — last year, 33 ofhis 34 students advanced tothe next grade. To find an OSTlocation near you, call 311 orDYCD at (212) 788-5647.

Out-of-School(Continued from page 5)

a a a


BRONX FLOWER GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Love & Peace I Garden, Boston Secor Houses2nd Prize: The Liberty Garden, Throggs Neck Houses3rd Prize: Mommy’s Corner Garden, Union Avenue ConsolidationHonorable Mention: Yolanda’s Beautiful Garden, Parkside Houses

BRONX VEGETABLE GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Taste of the South Bronx Garden, Union Avenue Consolidation2nd Prize: Parkside Community Center Veggie Garden

BRONX CHILDREN’S THEME GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Monterey’s Shade Garden, Monterey Community Center2nd Prize: Monterey’s Butterfly Garden, Monterey Community Center3rd Prize: Sedgwick Community Center Butterfly Garden, Sedgwick

Community CenterHonorable Mention: What Helpful Hands Create Garden,

Soundview Senior CenterHonorable Mention: Parkside Community Center Butterfly Gardens

MANHATTAN FLOWER GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Our Garden, East River Houses2nd Prize: Garden of Unity, Straus Houses3rd Prize: A Touch of Class Garden, Wagner HousesHonorable Mention: Heavenly Scent Serenity Garden, Isaacs Houses

MANHATTAN VEGETABLE GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Harlem’s Vegetable Garden, Jefferson Houses2nd Prize: Troche’s Garden, Wald Houses3rd Prize: Senior Citizens Garden, Drew Hamilton HousesHonorable Mention: East River Community Center Kids’ Veggie Garden,

East River Community CenterHonorable Mention: Unity Garden, Wald Houses

MANHATTAN CHILDREN’S THEME GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Mrs. Potts’ Garden, Isaacs Houses2nd Prize: Jacob Riis Community Center Butterfly Garden,

Jacob Riis Community Center

SOUTH BROOKLYN FLOWER GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Beach Front Garden #1, Coney Island Houses2nd Prize: Shining Light Garden, Sheepshead-Nostrand Houses3rd Prize: Hummingbird’s Garden, Coney Island HousesHonorable Mention: Wishing Well Garden, Glenwood HousesHonorable Mention: Hayes Paradise of Flowers Garden, Red Hook East Houses

SOUTH BROOKLYN VEGETABLE GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Green Thumb Garden, Marlboro Houses2nd Prize: Bay View’s Vegetable Garden, Bay View Houses3rd Prize: Fajardo Gardens, Breukelen HousesHonorable Mention: Mixed Vegetables Garden, Red Hook EastHonorable Mention: God is Love Garden, Marlboro HousesHonorable Mention: Mother Land Earth Garden, Bay View HousesHonorable Mention: Hayes’ Garden of Love Vegetables, Red Hook East Houses

SOUTH BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S THEME GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: A&M Garden, Sheepshead-Nostrand Houses2nd Prize: Flowers of Faith Garden, Sheepshead-Nostrand Houses3rd Prize: Beauty at the Bay Garden, Sheepshead-Nostrand HousesHonorable Mention: Sugar Plum Garden, Red Hook East Houses

2006 GARDEN & GREENING COMPETITION CITYWIDE WINNERS:

FLOWER: Renew Your Spirit Garden, Sheepshead-Nostrand Houses, BrooklynVEGETABLE: Green Thumb Garden #1 Garden, Mariner’s Harbor, Staten Island

CHILDREN’S THEME: Lilly’s Butterfly Garden, Lexington Houses, Manhattan

WEST BROOKLYN FLOWER GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Warren Street Sunshine Flowers Garden,

572-574 Warren Street/Wyckoff Gardens2nd Prize: Sweet Success Gardeners, Louis Armstrong Houses3rd Prize: A Thing of Beauty #2 Garden, Louis Armstrong HousesHonorable Mention: Sumner’s Miracle Garden, Sumner Senior Center

WEST BROOKLYN VEGETABLE GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Bengie’s Vegetable Garden, Sumner Houses2nd Prize: Love Tavia Garden, Bushwick-Hylan Houses3rd Prize: Cabbage Patch Garden, Walt Whitman HousesHonorable Mention: Willie and the Little Hunter’s Plantation, Roosevelt Houses

WEST BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S THEME GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: A Touch of Love Garden, Lafayette Gardens Community Center

EAST BROOKLYN FLOWER GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Dawn’s Place Garden, Linden Houses2nd Prize: Mayda’s Children Garden of Peace, Boulevard Houses3rd Prize: Unique Spot Garden, Saratoga Square HousesHonorable Mention: Star Garden, Hope Gardens

EAST BROOKLYN VEGETABLE GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Green Thumb Garden, Louis H. Pink Houses2nd Prize: Lea’s Garden - Mi Jardin Bello Amanecer, Hope Gardens3rd Prize: Bountiful Garden, Tilden HousesHonorable Mention: Garden of Hope, Howard Houses Day Care Center

EAST BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S THEME GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Garden of Farewells, Boulevard Houses2nd Prize: Colorful Angels Garden, Hope Gardens3rd Prize: Lourdes Ivette Rivera - In Memory Garden, Palmetto Gardens

QUEENS FLOWER GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Garden of Zodiac, South Jamaica Houses2nd Prize: Love & Beauty Flowers Garden, Conlon-Lihfe Towers3rd Prize: Just for You Garden, Woodside HousesHonorable Mention: The Children’s Garden, Woodside Houses

QUEENS VEGETABLE GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Vegetable Soup Garden, Conlon-Lihfe Towers2nd Prize: Garden of Venus, South Jamaica Houses3rd Prize: Garden of Eat’n, South Jamaica HousesHonorable Mention: Campbell’s Vegetable Garden, South Jamaica HousesHonorable Mention: Precious Foods Garden, Redfern HousesHonorable Mention: I Did It! Garden, South Jamaica Houses

QUEENS CHILDREN’S THEME GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Eye of the Tiger Garden, South Jamaica Houses Community Center

STATEN ISLAND FLOWER GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: “My Serenity” Garden, New Lane Shores2nd Prize: A Gift of Beauty Garden, New Lane Shores3rd Prize: Our Secret Garden, Stapleton HousesHonorable Mention: 218 Gardens, Stapleton Houses

STATEN ISLAND VEGETABLE GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Dina’s Garden, Berry Houses2nd Prize: Charlie’s Place Garden, New Lane Shores

STATEN ISLAND CHILDREN’S THEME GARDEN WINNERS:1st Prize: Lafayette’s Corner Garden, Cassidy-Lafayette Houses2nd Prize: Richmond Terrace Butterfly Garden, Richmond Terrace

preserving city and state developmentshud’s resident ...2 the housing authority journal november...

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