Res. No. 1902
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to pass and the President to sign H.R.1670, the Raising Employment in Affordable Communities and Homes Act of 2013.
By Council Members Mendez, Chin, Arroyo, Barron, Dickens, James, Palma, Rose, Vann and Rodriguez
Whereas, Section 3 is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") Act of 1968 that provides economic and employment opportunities to low-and very-low income individuals; and
Whereas, This provision requires that recipients of HUD financial assistance, such as the New York City Housing Authority ("NYCHA"), provide job training, employment and contracting opportunities for its residents; and
Whereas, NYCHA is the city's public housing authority with 334 developments, 2,596 buildings, and 178,914 public housing units, making it the largest public housing provider in North America; and
Whereas, NYCHA currently serves 176,221 families and 403,736 authorized residents; and
Whereas, According to a 2011 report by the Community Service Society, 30,000 out of approximately 130,000 residents in NYCHA's public housing labor force were unemployed in 2010; and
Whereas, All HUD funds received by NYCHA are subject to Section 3 requirements; and
Whereas, In order to comply with Section 3, HUD rules mandate that 30 percent of new hires for development, operation and modernization expenditures must be public housing residents or low-and very-low income individuals; and
Whereas, In addition to complying with HUD requirements, for contracts in excess of $500,000, NYCHA requires that 15 percent of total labor costs be used to hire NYCHA residents; and
Whereas, In 2011, NYCHA placed 1,241 residents in jobs, up from 43 placements in 2008; and
Whereas, While NYCHA has increased its efforts to provide job opportunities to residents, many continue to struggle to find a job; and
Whereas, According to a 2011 report by the Urban Justice Center and a number of other community based organizations, 22.1 percent of residents recently lost their job, 30.3 percent of residents are skilled in construction and are interested in working for NYCHA and its contractors and 74.3 percent of residents have not heard of NYCHA job opportunities; and
Whereas, H.R.1670, the "Raising Employment in Affordable Communities and Homes Act of 2013 ("the Act")," would amend Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968; and
Whereas, The Act would prohibit a public housing agency (PHA) from receiving any federal assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 unless the PHA prepares an action plan describing activities that will provide economic opportunities for low-and very-low income persons in connection with any assistance it receives; and
Whereas, Action plans would be required to describe activities that will provide individuals with training and employment opportunities generated by such assistance, award contracts for work in connection with such assistance to business concerns that also provide economic opportunities for individuals and incorporate such plans into a PHA's annual plan for the fiscal year; and
Whereas, The Act would decrease the unemployment rate in the City's public housing by requiring that NYCHA find employment opportunities for a greater number of its residents; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to pass and the President to sign H.R.1670, the Raising Employment in Affordable Communities and Homes Act of 2013.
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07/08/2013