03/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/28/2024 09:11
By: NYLAG Interim Supervising Attorney Sophie Cohen & Coordinating Senior Attorney Miles Walser
For the millions who call the Big Apple home, the New York City Housing (NYCHA) serves as a vital lifeline, providing affordable housing options to qualifying individuals and families. However, navigating the complexities of housing regulations and understanding one's rights as a NYCHA resident has historically been a challenge.
Last year marked a significant turning point in the realm of housing transparency as NYCHA took a step forward by publicly releasing its Admissions and Continues Occupancy Plan (ACOP) for public notice and comment. The ACOP is a public-facing document that outlines a Public Housing Authority's policies and procedures. For years there was no easily accessible way for NYCHA residents, housing advocates, or anyone for that matter to know what NYCHA rules were and if they were breaking them - but after more than a year of NYLAG's advocacy efforts alongside our community partners, this finally changed with the publication of NYCHA's ACOP.
While the ACOP is understandably comprehensive in outlining all the rights governing NYCHA residents' housing and living conditions, here are four fundamental rights that come up most frequently in our Public Housing Justice Project work - which are crucial for residents to know:
Still experiencing trouble or have questions?
You can read NYCHA's full ACOP here. For those experiencing challenges enforcing their rights or navigating the intricacies of NYCHA regulations, assistance is readily available. Contact (212) 946-0353 or email [email protected] for support.
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