New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) provides a vital affordable housing option for low-income families in NYC. But there are a lot of rules NYCHA tenants must follow if they want to stay in their homes. If a family member wants to move in or if the leaseholder passes away or moves out, families have to go through confusing processes to obtain permission from NYCHA to stay in their homes. There are multiple steps, documents, and short deadlines that families have to navigate alone, often for the first time, and without the help of a lawyer. 

CUP collaborated with the Housing Court Answers and designer Boyeon Choi to create Keep Your Family’s Home, a guide that breaks down the steps to get permission for a family member to move in and the process to keep the family home if the head of household passes away or moves out. The booklet shows a series of scenarios, and gives answers to questions tenants might have when interacting with the NYCHA Office, along with the precise deadlines for both processes so tenants know how and when to move forward. 

Keep Your Family’s Home launched in May 2017 at Housing Court Answers’ annual housing advocacy conference. Housing Court Answers and their partners are distributing thousands of these guides throughout New York City.

Get your copy here!

Resources & Links

Housing Court Answers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people who cannot afford an attorney in housing court.

Boyeon Choi is a freelance illustrator/graphic designer based in New York, always looking out for exciting projects.

Public Access Design is a program of the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP). Public Access Design projects use design to make complex urban issues accessible to the New Yorkers most affected by them.

Funding Support

Support for this project was provided by The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional support was provided by Council Members Melissa Mark-Viverito and Antonio Reynoso. 

Special Thanks

Christine Gaspar, Ingrid Haftel, Deja Holden, Jenny Laurie, Lucy Newman, and all NYCHA residents that provided feedback on the project. 

Participants

  • CUP
  • Oscar Nuñez

  • Housing Court Answers
  • Advocacy Partner
  • Genesis Aquino
  • Jennifer N. Arriaga Rivera
    • Jessica Hurd
    • Mahkeddah Thompson

    • Designer
    • Boyeon Choi