Public housing is rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. It is publicly owned and build on public land. Its construction and maintenance are paid for with public funds in accordance with Section 9 of the U.S  Housing Act of 1937. Public Housing Authorities (PHA) are publicly funded corporations created by the federal government to manage public housing.

NYCHA is the largest PHA in the country. NYCHA controls all the public housing and the land it is built on in New York City. According to NYCHA’s website, its mission is “to increase opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers by providing safe, affordable housing and facilitating access to social and community services.”

RAD (Rental Assistance Demonstration), designed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2014, allows PHAs to choose to permanently privatize housing developments. Once they get approval from HUD, PHAs can sell shares in public housing developments to private companies that finance repairs to the buildings and their surroundings in exchange. PHAs share control of these private companies with real estate developers and investors. Once a housing development becomes privately owned, residents lose all rights and protections associated with public housing. They must apply for and receive section 8 vouchers in order to remain in their homes. Section 8 then pays a portion of their rent to their new private landlords.

Highbridge Rehabs (Anderson Ave) is one of the NYCHA properties that was entered into RAD program. The application was received by HUD on June 29, 2106. It was awarded CHAP status on January 11, 2017. It was awarded CHAP (Commitment to enter into Housing Assistance Payment) status on January 11, 2017. CHAP status means that HUD reviewed the application for a specific housing development and allowed NYCHA to start the process of privatization. The expected conversion date listed by HUD is November 7, 2017.