Living Through a PACT Deal
Aloha neighbors,
I am back from leave sorta refreshed and tanned. I am so grateful to the team at Save Section 9 for managing things in my absence. This break reminded me of my value, something that isn't determined by what "I do" or produce. This is a lesson that I need to relearn regularly.
Luckily, I've been presented with an opportunity to detach again by Windcall Residency. I was selected to participate in their residency from September 16 - October 7.
The Windcall Residency Program is a nationally recognized leadership and renewal program for organizers. Windcall is a powerful program where many of its 750+ organizer alumni work hard on all dimensions of strategy, community building, organizational leadership and movement building but often do not make time to take care of themselves.
The residency targets leaders who deserve to prioritize reflective time to sustain high-quality and strategic leadership.
It is a real honor for me to receive this award and the timing could not be more ironic. At Windcall, I will be able to step back, take a break, and catch my breath – in a place surrounded by stillness and nature. I will have access to creative and reflective activities such as art, meditation, and ocean watching with Brownie. I will also have access to a professional coach/therapist to support me in reaching my goals during and after the residency.
The three-week program is free, but I have to cover my travel, approximately $1000. If available to you I would appreciate a donation. You can donate via:
Venmo: Ramona-Ferreyra
CashApp: $yoselyn7034
PayPal: RamonaFerreyra
Zelle: 9172262974
Please note that this would be a donation to Ramona, not Save Section 9. Your contribution will make this break stress free. It will also ensure that I continue to lead Save Section 9 strategically, refreshed and inspired by my home, its legacy and my community.
In solidarity,
Ramona
Tenant, Mitchel Houses
Founder, Save Section 9
YOU SHOULD KNOW
What is it like to live through a PACT conversion, a gas explosion and Wavecrest Management? Our neighbors Lisa and Simone have drafted this essay to answer these questions...
“The Project-Based Section 8/PACT program was presented as a way to improve housing conditions, through apartment rehabilitation and renovation, preserve affordability, and protect tenant rights. For many residents, we have experienced a different reality. Instead of feeling more secure, some tenants feel that private management companies are not following the program’s guidelines.
Unsolicited PACT partners dominated General Resident Meetings, promoting a “lipstick remodel”—a surface-level renovation of fresh paint, cabinet hardware, updated light fixtures, as the main solution for wear and tear while simultaneously owning residents’ apartments and buildings. Some developments like Boston-Secor Houses in the Bronx, NY needed deeper structural, plumbing, and electrical issues fixed. When addressed by contracted vendors, the reveal was vendors working without permits and permits not on file with the Buildings Department since the pandemic.
Reports of a stove being moved by an “unhoused person” on January 24, 2026, preceded a gas explosion and fire that destroyed multiple units and exposed worsening structural defects. The incident also raised concerns about additional tenant fatalities that were not initially reported as part of the blast. Survivors from Boston-Secor’s Building #1 were displaced by the fire and housed in scattered hotels for a short time. During that period, PACT vendor, Preservation Logistics allegedly pressured displaced residents to accept a one-time stipend of $2,000 and slightly more than this, depending on their apartment size to check-out of hotel stays and return to a building that remains under a Fire Department Vacate Order and has been condemned.
The structural issues addressed under the PACT program but resulting in shoddy work include,
Cooking gas services have not been restored since January 24, 2026. Con Edison’s records do not show address listings for Boston-Secor’s four multi-family buildings so its location is not readily known on its face, but it is aware that electric stoves are slated for installation at this development.
New gas stoves in renovated units were replaced with electric stoves that were delivered but not installed.
Asbestos abatement being performed inside apartments without properly sealing affected areas, creating potential public exposure to hazardous materials.
Steam pipes are being covered over with thick insulation without first removing required layers of lead-based paint.
New window encasements are not properly sealed, allowing wind, noise, whistling sound effects and weather-related penetration.
New bathroom plumbing is leaking, causing ceiling sagging and new mold growth.
Bedroom walls and floors show excessive moisture and new mold growth.
New electrical boxes protrude from common walls; vinyl plank flooring is lifting and separating because of failing adhesive, and matte-finish wall paint is peeling in large sections within weeks of application.
Renovated apartments experience circuit breaker tripping, arcing, and power outages when resident’s plug-in a single appliance after vendor-installed wiring work.
Slow cookers and / or air fryers have been offered to select residents to use with faulty wiring in renovated units.
Private management discourages residents from filing 3-1-1 reports with city agencies, including during emergencies.
Little emphasis was placed on bringing units up to building code standards since inspections are not always conducted on completed work.
In addition, the PACT program was marketed in a way that encourages self-eviction by steering residents toward Section 8 vouchers, including the Affordable Choice Voucher, even though that option is currently underfunded. However, when activated, the voucher has an approximate 4-month usage date before its expiration. As a result, some residents feel pushed toward eviction or displacement rather than supported through resolution.
Under PACT, homes are supposed to remain permanently affordable, residents are supposed to keep important protections, and NYCHA is expected to monitor conditions after conversion. NYCHA states that residents should continue paying rent based on income, have the right to renew leases, keep grievance rights, and receive oversight when issues arise with new property management. These rights should also transfer to residents living under private ownership and hired private management, but these rights are being ignored.
These protections are important because they recognize that housing is not only a building, but also a foundation for family stability, health, and community and adheres to HUD guidelines for public housing and any applicable programs.
Private management may fail to communicate clearly, delay repairs, or treat tenants as problems instead of partners. When management does not follow established guidelines, tenants can face confusion, stress, and fear. Instead of receiving outreach, payment support, or a fair opportunity to resolve issues, residents may feel moved quickly toward legal action and eviction. This is especially upsetting because many tenants are low-income families, seniors, disabled, or people who depend on stable housing to maintain their daily lives.
These concerns are not just personal complaints; they have also been reflected in public oversight. Reports on PACT have noted that large eviction filings and evictions in PACT developments have raised serious questions about whether tenant protections are being honored. The problem is not simply that legal cases exist, but that tenants may not always receive the required outreach, information, or assistance before eviction proceedings begin. When oversight is weak, the guarantee of resident protections becomes difficult to trust.
For residents, the issue is more than paperwork or policy language. It is about dignity and quality of life. Tenants should not have to fight constantly for rights that were already legally available to them.
A program that claims to preserve affordability and protect residents must be measured by how people are treated after conversion. When private companies ignore guidelines, fails to work with families, or uses eviction as a first response instead of a last resort, then the program is not meeting its purpose and is counterproductive to its original meaning of “Partnership And Community Togetherness” = PACT.
It is also not following its newer label “Permanent Affordability Commitment Together” = PACT (under NYCHA).
To improve the PACT experience, NYCHA and its partners must listen closely to residents without prejudice, enforce the program’s guidelines, and hold private management accountable with a tangible, positive outcome. Tenants need clear communication, timely repairs, fair grievance processes, and real eviction-prevention support. Lease agreements should be evaluated and interpreted factually, especially when only the English version is recognized.
The goal of PACT should not be to displace people from their homes, but to strengthen communities and make housing safer, more stable, and truly affordable for the residents who live there.”
Lisa & Simone,
Boston Secor Houses
THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
Join Save Section 9’s bi-weekly meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2nd from 7 - 8:30pm E.T.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83727429468
Wednesday, September 2. 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM E.T. The Power of Aging Well: This special community event will bring older adults together to promote healthy living, connect with valuable local resources, and enjoy activities focused on wellness and healthy aging.
Location: Thomas Jefferson Park – Basketball Court
East 114th Street & Pleasant Avenue
Rain Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026
Come out to discover wellness tips, connect with community organizations, access resources, and enjoy engaging activities.
———
Thursday, September 3. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM E.T. Virtual Info Session - Learn About REES Services and Opportunities: Attend an information session to learn how REES connects NYCHA residents to opportunities for advancement through partnerships and initiatives in job training, adult education, financial counseling, employment assistance, Section 3 opportunities, and resident business development services. REES information sessions are held virtually and in person. Register online for an upcoming session or call the REES hotline at (718) 289-8100.
———
Friday, September 4. 3:00 - 6:00 PM E.T. Join Council Member Elsie Encarnacion and our South Bronx community for an exciting afternoon filled with fun, food, music, and activities for our youth!
Date: Friday, September 4, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM–6:00 PM
Location: Saint Mary’s Park – West Playground
St. Ann’s Avenue & E. 147th Street, Bronx, NY
There will be something for everyone, including:
Bouncy Houses
Game Truck
Rock Wall Climbing
Popcorn & Cotton Candy
Face Painting
Ice Cream Truck
DJ & Great Music
FREE Book Bags for Youth!
Bring your family, bring your friends, and come celebrate the start of a new school year with our South Bronx community!
MORE TO READ
Zohran Mamdani Would Have a Lot of Explaining to Do to Mother Jones. President Teddy Roosevelt ignored Mary Harris “Mother” Jones when she brought the March of the Mill Children to his doorstep in 1903. Today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani continues to ignore the worker injustices brought to his doorstep in New York City. Read more HERE.
