New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
The New York City Housing Authority has the full name New York City Housing Authority and the standard acronym NYCHA. NYCHA operates as the largest public housing authority in North America, managing affordable housing for over 400,000 low- and moderate-income residents across 335 developments in NYC’s five boroughs.
It also administers the Section 8 voucher program for an additional 235,000 people in private rentals.
Key differences from other agencies
Important information
Unlike HPD* (which enforces maintenance codes in private rentals) or DOB* (which handles building code compliance), NYCHA directly owns and operates public housing properties.
Created in 1934, it focuses on providing safe, subsidized units rather than regulating private landlords.
Why NYCHA matters for tenants
If you live in a NYCHA development, NYCHA is usually your landlord and is responsible for building maintenance, basic services, and processing repair requests (for example, no heat, leaks, or broken elevators). Tenants in NYCHA housing or using a NYCHA Section 8 voucher generally contact NYCHA about rent issues, annual recertification, and apartment transfers rather than HPD or DOB. For emergency conditions, you can also call 311, but NYCHA will still be the main agency handling your apartment and building.
Related terms
Some glossary entries use an asterisk * at the end of the term (for example, violation* or permit*). This mark is only a technical tool on this website. It does not change the meaning of the word.
