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Q&A
Transfer policies and processes in RAD/PACT developments
2:38:19
ยท
6 min
Council Member Chris Banks questions NYCHA officials about transfer policies and processes in RAD/PACT developments. The discussion covers various aspects of transfers, including resident concerns, communication, and current limitations.
- NYCHA acknowledges hearing concerns about transfers between PAC developments and to Section 9 housing, but notes it's currently not permissible
- Officials deny knowledge of residents being removed from transfer waitlists during conversions
- NYCHA claims to communicate potential changes in transfer policies during resident engagement meetings
- Existing transfer requests are closed when a development converts to PAC, with some exceptions for on-site transfers
- Current regulations prohibit transfers between PAC developments or between PAC and Section 9 housing
- For transfers that cannot be accommodated within a PAC development, residents may be offered a housing choice voucher
- NYCHA is exploring ways to facilitate transfers between PAC developments and Section 9 housing in the future
Chris Banks
2:38:19
We'll we'll come back to evictions.
2:38:21
We're gonna have a conversation about transfers.
2:38:24
Has NYCHA heard concerns from residents about the transfer process at PAC Developments?
2:38:34
Has NYCHA heard of concerns from residents about the transfer process?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:38:39
Do you mean going from one from a PAC development to another PAC development or to a Section
Chris Banks
2:38:44
nine?
2:38:44
Yeah.
Jonathan Gouveia
2:38:45
Yes, we have.
2:38:46
And we are trying to find a way to facilitate such moves, but it's not currently permissible.
Chris Banks
2:38:53
Okay.
2:38:55
Have you heard of reports of residents being removed from transfer waitlist when their buildings are being converted to PATH?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:39:05
No.
2:39:06
Again, if you have some specifics, we will look into it, but I've not heard of that.
Chris Banks
2:39:10
Okay.
2:39:11
Is a potential change in transfer policy or removal from a transfer waitlist a risk that NYCHA communicates to residents when discussing the impact of a pack conversion?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:39:26
Transfer policy.
2:39:35
Just whether they can move from active risk conversion.
2:39:39
Did we share that?
Simon Kawitzky
2:39:39
Oh, apologies council member.
2:39:42
Yes, any questions that come up at our meetings about transfer policy are addressed.
2:39:46
We also have a meeting that's specific to different things that you need to be aware of prior to the conversion.
2:39:57
And as my colleague Brian mentioned, where we walk through how to apply for a reasonable accommodation, how you would pay your rent, where you would go to file income certification under project based section eight versus section nine, those are all explained at a very specific packed welcome meeting prior to the conversion taking place.
Chris Banks
2:40:17
So, it's your testimony.
2:40:18
You explained to the residents about The transfer policy.
2:40:23
This is done through the engagement process?
Simon Kawitzky
2:40:25
Correct.
2:40:26
This is done at there is a specific resident meeting that goes through that and other topics related to how the new property manager and NYCHA would interact with residents after the conversion takes place.
2:40:39
But we field questions like this all the time through our office hours, our phone banking, our hotline, and just our regular communication outreach.
Chris Banks
2:40:46
How many community engagement meetings are held in the beginning process of a RAD PAC converted development?
Simon Kawitzky
2:40:53
It would depend on the specific development and the kind of feedback we get in working with resident leaders about how to best reach residents.
2:41:03
We use a variety of different outreach tactics.
2:41:07
So we host typically at least, I would say, two or three town hall style meetings before we release a request to identify developers.
2:41:21
We also are running weekly office hours.
2:41:24
We're sending out text messages and emails.
2:41:27
We're making phone calls.
2:41:30
We're doing workshops.
2:41:31
So there's a whole range of different activities.
2:41:34
And it really depends on things like the size of the development and the kind of guidance that we get from resident leaders.
Chris Banks
2:41:41
Okay.
2:41:41
When a development converts to PAC, are all existing transfer requests closed?
2:41:52
So during that
Simon Kawitzky
2:41:53
transition Yes, the answer is yes.
2:41:55
Residents receive a notice that their open transfer request is closed prior to the conversion taking place.
Chris Banks
2:42:01
So my question then, why is that the outcome?
2:42:06
Or why is the transfer closed?
2:42:09
Shouldn't that just be transferred over to the new management company?
Simon Kawitzky
2:42:13
So, they have a transfer request Documents?
2:42:15
Yeah.
Chris Banks
2:42:16
So, I can clarify.
2:42:16
A request?
Simon Kawitzky
2:42:17
Yeah.
2:42:18
So, there's different kinds of requests.
2:42:19
Under the project based section eight program, residents cannot currently request a transfer between a section eight development and a public housing development, or between different section eight developments.
2:42:32
But if they have a request to move to, say, a larger apartment to accommodate their family size within that development, that is still relayed to the PACT partners.
2:42:44
And then they would work through a process to facilitate transfers as apartments are available.
Chris Banks
2:42:47
That's transferred over to the PAC partner?
Simon Kawitzky
2:42:50
Those requests are transferred over and made aware of PAC partners are made aware.
2:42:54
Correct.
Chris Banks
2:42:55
Is it true, even when residents are seeking reasonable accommodations, emergency transfers, has that been something you've heard about or has that been a constant where residents are seeking reasonable accommodations
Simon Kawitzky
2:43:16
or emergency transfers?
2:43:18
So, apologies, just getting some information from my So, if a reasonable accommodation request has been made and can be accommodated on-site, efforts are made by the PACT partner to accommodate those needs.
2:43:31
If there's an emergency transfer request to move to a different location, again, because of the restrictions on how transfers can take place between different developments, the option that we would offer to the resident is a housing choice voucher, which would allow them to move off-site to a different property.
Chris Banks
2:43:51
Okay.
2:43:51
Does NYCHA currently permit transfers within and between PAC portfolios?
2:43:58
No.
2:43:58
As I mentioned, current
Simon Kawitzky
2:44:02
regulations prohibit us from facilitating those transfers between PAC developments.
Chris Banks
2:44:08
Will NYCHA eventually permit transfers between PAC developments and Section I developments?
Simon Kawitzky
2:44:17
It's something that we're looking at and working to facilitate.
Chris Banks
2:44:26
Which regulations prohibit that?
2:44:28
Or what regulation prohibits a resident transferring to a different PAC portfolio or to a Section nine development or traditional NYCHA development?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:44:41
We can get you more details, but it sounds like it's in the Section eight admin plan.
2:44:45
But again, we can get you more specifics on where that's codified.
Chris Banks
2:44:51
Okay.
2:44:52
When a PAC resident needs to transfer that cannot be accommodated at their development, what are their options?
Simon Kawitzky
2:45:05
Yeah.