BILL NUMBER: S6673
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to the conversion
and transfer of real property in public housing developments
 
PURPOSE:
This bill will provide tenants in public housing with additional
protections when their development is considered for conversions and
require information on projects and conversions to be made available
online and to the public.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one established the legislative findings.
Section two amends the public housing law by adding a new section 62.
Section three amends section 38 of the public housing law.
Section four establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Public housing has been chronically underfunded at all levels of govern-
ment for decades, and as a result, many apartments are in dire need of
repair. Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) is a Housing and Urban
Development initiative that allows public housing authorities to raise
additional funds for capital repairs by converting Section 9 subsidies
into Section 8 project-based vouchers. NYCHA tenants whose developments
are being considered for conversion are eligible to vote on the future
management of their building.
However, since the conversion process is often lengthy and technical,
far too many public housing residents are unaware of their rights and
how such a vote will eventually impact their homes. For example, in a
2022 survey conducted by Community Service Society, 39% of NYCHA resi-
dents said they did not have enough information to determine which type
of developmental program they preferred.
This legislation would increase transparency and participation at the
development level by requiring public housing authorities to create and
provide residents with a tenant handbook that clearly outlines their
rights during a RAD/PACT conversion. It would also require public hous-
ing agencies to maintain a publicly accessible database on developments
that are being converted.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.9672 - Referred to Housing
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S6673: 38 public housing law