$2,049 FOR A 6 BEDROOM

FLAT RENT ENSURES ALL RESIDENTS WILL PAY EQUAL SHARE

As NYCHA continues to face underfunding from the federal government, its buildings get older and the waiting list for public housing sits at more than 160,000, the Authority keeps looking for new ways to secure and maximize funding sources and improve delivery of services in order to preserve public housing in New York City. One critical way NYCHA will do that is by restoring rent equity to ensure that all residents pay 30 percent of their income toward rent.

More than 47,000 NYCHA households currently pay less than 30 percent of their income toward rent. To make sure all residents are subject to the same standards, NYCHA will increase rent maximums and gradually raise rents for these households, by up to 30 percent of their income based on the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) affordable fair market rent. This is consistent with what housing authorities in other cities do. NYCHA estimates it will retain an additional $135 million, which will be used to better maintain building services and property upgrades for all developments.

Households that pay less than 30 percent of their annual income toward rent have an average income of more than $48,000, but they pay an average of only 21 percent of that income for their monthly rent. Eighty-six percent of these households earn their income from having a job. The average household income NYCHA-wide is less than $24,000. Under the new policy, the more money a resident earns, the higher his/her monthly rent will be, bringing them closer to their fair share of rent.

The vast majority of residents — more than 70 percent — already pays 30 percent of income in rent and will not be affected. The change to NYCHA's rental policy was discussed with residents at its Draft Annual Plan roundtable discussions in 2012. At those meetings, most resident leaders and residents supported the change and many spoke out in support of it.

The overall average rent increase for affected households in 2013 will be $58. The increase will be phased in gradually over the next five years, beginning in May. The exact amount of the increase will be calculated as a part of residents' annual review process, and notices started going out with the March rent bill. Residents can get an estimate of their new rent by using the "Flat Rent Calculator" on NYCHA's website at www.nyc.gov/nycharenttool. Anyone with questions should contact their management office.