Voices From NYCHA: What Residents Say Needs to Change
- Iyana Best
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
by Iyana Best
When people hear “NYCHA,” they often think of broken elevators, leaks, or peeling paint. But for thousands of families living in New York City public housing, iIt may not be perfect, but for many it’s the only place they can afford to call home. NYCHA, the largest public housing system in the country, is supposed to provide safe and affordable housing. But right now, residents say it needs serious change. This article explains what’s wrong, why it matters, and how the city can fix it, by listening to the people who live there every day.
NYCHA residents deal with a lot: aging buildings, broken elevators, poor heating in the winter, leaks, mold, and safety concerns. Many residents feel like their voices are ignored, even when they report problems over and over again. Ms. Sherly Green, who lives in Queensbridge Houses, shared, Sometimes I wait weeks just for someone to come check on a leak in my kitchen. I’ve had the same mold problem for years. It’s like we’re invisible.” Jamal R. a 17-year-old from Ravenswood projects, added, "There’s nothing here for us teens to do. If we had more programs or a center that stayed open, a lot of kids wouldn’t get into trouble. These are just a few of the many stories shared by residents who feel forgotten in the system.
NYCHA buildings are old and need a lot of repairs. In 2024, NYCHA needs over 78 billion dollars to fix these buildings. The city started a program called PACT that got 1.7 billion dollars to help fix some places, but many problems stayed the same. Last year, the number of open repair requests went up from 585,000 to 623,000, which means many people are still waiting for repairs. The New York City comptroller is now checking how the city is spending 3.18 billion dollars set aside for NYCHA repairs to make sure the money is used correctly. This shows how big and important the problem is.
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As a resident myself, and for my community I speak for all of us. We don’t need fancy things, just basic repairs and respect. Such as faster fixes and ways to report problems, more staff to handle repairs, better safety with working CAMERAS AND LIGHTS! Clean buildings with working elevators. Programs for teens, job training for adults, and community events.
NYCHA was created in 1934 to give affordable homes to many New Yorkers. But over the years, cuts in funding and poor maintenance have made things worse. In 2019, the federal government made NYCHA promise to fix unsafe conditions, but progress has been slow. Now, with programs like PACT and city leaders checking how the money is spent, people are starting to feel hopeful that conditionsthings can get better. Residents are also coming together speaking up, and hoping repairs will happen faster and their homes will be safer and cleaner.
The people who live in NYCHA know what needs to change. They want their homes to be safe, clean, and respectful places to live. If the city listens and acts, NYCHA can be a better place for thousands of families to call home.
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