When the New York City Housing Authority launched a comprehensive plan called NextGeneration Operations to secure the future of public housing in 2015, it faced its worst financial position in more than 80 years. Now, with proposed federal budget cutbacks, NYCHA is staring at more of a challenge.
The woman who ran the 10-year plan to preserve and protect public housing for current and future residents, Janet Abrahams, left NYCHA after nearly two years to take over the Baltimore Housing Authority.
“One of our biggest challenges, no question, are budget cuts, but we still have to provide the same level of service,” Abrahams said. “It’s a big struggle for the agency.”
The Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development would result in a $220 million reduction to NYCHA’s capital budget and a $100-150 million cutback to the agency’s operating budget.
NextGen Ops put the 21 NYCHA developments in Queens in a better position — with its 15,300 apartments and population of more than 33,000 residents — than they were before, thanks to efficiency and cost savings from improving basic maintenance and repair service. The approach emphasizes greater collaboration with public housing residents and increased staff accountability.
“Prior to NextGen Ops, everything was centralized,” Abrahams said. “The goal was to empower our property managers to make their own decisions on budgets and staff in order to become more self-sufficient. We had to get each staff to realize their own weaknesses and improve from there.”
NextGen Ops established a training academy where professionals would teach modern property management.
“The academy covers everything and sets higher standards,” Abrahams said. “It wasn’t perfect and we had some growing pains, but the teams from the Queens developments stood out as a model for NYCHA developments in the other boroughs. I will miss this place and the wonderful teams in Queens.”
NYCHA general manager Michael Kelly said Abrahams’ leadership was instrumental in the successful launch of NextGen Ops.
“Her exemplary team and the NextGen foundation she created will continue to push us towards our goal to provide safe, clean and connected communities for our residents,” Kelly said. “We wish her all the best as she continues to protect public housing for this generation and the next.”
NYCHA announced this week that Cathy Pennington, the executive vice president for Leased Housing, will oversee NextGen Ops in the interim. Pennington has worked in affordable housing for 27 years and gave credit to Abrahams.
“She presented us with a great foundation and I will keep it moving forward while we search for her replacement,” Pennington said.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
