Research & Innovations

From the New York City Housing Authority's website:

In March, the inaugural cohort of NYCHA’s YouthBuild program in Brownsville, Brooklyn, began their six-month journey into an alternative education pathway aimed at providing them with the skills and support they need to succeed. 

YouthBuild is an international program that supports young people ages 16 to 24 who left high school early and may have faced challenges in their personal lives, including being justice-involved, aging out of foster care, experiencing housing instability, and other risk factors. The program offers a community-based model where young people can gain valuable life skills and work experience through a blend of education, construction training, leadership development, and job placement support. NYCHA received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for its YouthBuild program, which will serve young people ages 17 to 24. 

This cohort is the first of two six-month cohorts that will be conducted through NYCHA’s YouthBuild, managed by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES). “We are extremely excited to bring YouthBuild back to Brownsville,” said Lenese McPhie, Deputy Director of REES. “At the core of this program, we aspire to empower and build up our NYCHA youth into confident community leaders as they pursue their educational and career goals. Every young person in the program is unique, and we hope to create an environment where their voices are heard and dreams realized.” 

In addition to a stipend and support services, the cohort is receiving classroom instruction on construction skills and safety training, including OSHA site safety training and National Center for Construction Education and Research construction technology credentials; hands-on construction training as they work to renovate affordable housing units in Brownsville and Ocean Hill, Brooklyn; and high school equivalency (HSE) instruction to help them pass the HSE exam (participants who already have their HSE will work towards another educational goal). They will also build their leadership skills and organize and participate in community service opportunities. Following their successful completion of the program, YouthBuild members receive 12 months of job placement and post-program support to help them obtain apprenticeships and entry-level construction positions. 

NYCHA’s YouthBuild partners are Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, Brooklyn Public Library, and Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation. 

As part of a weeklong orientation held at the Langston Houses Community Center, Carver Houses Resident Association President Nina Saxon, an alumnus of YouthBuild, spoke to the cohort members about how her YouthBuild experience changed her life. 

Ms. Saxon’s journey began as a teenager in her Spanish Harlem neighborhood in the late 1990s. She had dropped out of high school and was hanging with friends who were involved in risky behavior. Her father asked her, “What are you going to do with yourself?” and she didn’t yet know. However, a pivotal moment came when her close friends were arrested, which prompted Ms. Saxon to make a change. She walked into the location of the first YouthBuild program in East Harlem (Youth Action YouthBuild) and never looked back. 

She shared how she “learned how to do blueprints, carpentry, math skills, and I also had an internship at a hospital. There’s a building on 117th and 2nd Avenue that I helped build brick by brick.” Ms. Saxon spoke of the personal challenges she faced during that experience, including losing both of her parents, but she was determined to earn her GED and build a better future for herself.  

After receiving her GED thanks to support from YouthBuild, she pursued an undergraduate degree at Morgan State University, along with several other YouthBuild graduates. After graduating from college, she moved back home because she wanted to work and be a force for good in her community – she credits YouthBuild with helping instill love and care for her community. Ms. Saxon became an advocate for YouthBuild’s mission, working as Vice President of the YouthBuild National Alumni Council and traveling the country to talk about the benefits and results of the program. In addition to being the Resident Association President of Carver Houses, she also currently works for City Comptroller Brad Lander. 

“This is a movement, and the work we do is never over,” Ms. Saxon said. “The reason I came here today is to tell you my story to give you some inspiration to see that you can do this. I started at YouthBuild when I was 17 and I’ve been on the board of directors for 30 years. You all will make history as the inaugural NYCHA group, and the next cohorts will look to what you did. Once a YouthBuild, always a YouthBuild.” 

Ms. Saxon’s experience and advice resonated deeply with the participants, many of whom expressed aspirations to earn their GED, gain meaningful employment, and ultimately build better futures for themselves. YouthBuild member Aniyah said, “One goal I’m hoping to achieve from this program is to gain valuable skills that I would be able to use in my day-to-day life.” Fellow cohort member Kaliyah said she likes the program because of the support: “I like the feeling of warmth when I get here. It’s a struggle sometimes getting here, but I’m always glad when I make it. I would encourage others because it’s helping me.” 

From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) unveiled a new community arts mural series at Nickerson Gardens, funded by the state’s Clean California program. This dynamic public art project brings together residents, local leaders, and acclaimed artist Brian Peterson to transform shared spaces with vibrant murals that highlight themes of creativity, resilience, and neighborhood pride.

“The new murals at Nickerson Gardens are a great example of how art can bring people together, foster pride, and build a lasting sense of belonging,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, HACLA President & CEO. “This community arts project is part of a larger effort to activate public spaces, celebrate resident identity, and invest in the well-being of our communities.”  

Renowned for his bold, minimalist style, Peterson created eight original murals throughout Nickerson Gardens, incorporating input from residents. During a recent Community Day celebration, local youth and families joined the creative process by helping paint a section of the mural themselves, creating lasting memories and a shared sense of ownership.    

“Coming back to Nickerson Gardens to paint eight new murals is deeply meaningful to me. After creating murals honoring Kobe and Gigi Bryant and the LA Rams, I wanted to continue building on the vibrant culture already thriving in this community,” said artist Brian Peterson. “My goal is to bring color and inspiration through my signature style, and to create spaces that uplift everyone who walks by.”  
 
The mural unveiling was part of a broader revitalization effort that includes enhanced public spaces, newly designed trash enclosures that improve accessibility and aesthetics, and resident-led initiatives like the Green Ambassador program—promoting health, connection, and creativity to the community. These efforts build on strong partnerships with sports teams like the Los Angeles Rams, who brought the community a Rams-branded turf field and new sports-themed mural, inspiring youth through art and athletics—watch the video. 
 
Other recent additions include the Lakers and Mamba & Mambacita Foundations’ gym mural and refurbished basketball courts. A central community park and Dodgers Dreamfield are also on the way, slated for completion later this year.

“I am so happy we now have beautiful murals in our community,” said Maria Alcantar, Resident Advisory Council President at Nickerson Gardens. “These murals represent how beautiful the residents’ hearts and souls are.”

Nickerson Gardens continues to evolve into a hub that celebrates resilience through art, athletics, and opportunity. These efforts reinforce HACLA’s mission to reimagine public housing as a platform for community pride and progress. 

From the Bremerton Housing Authority's website:

On February 21, 2025, Bremerton Housing Authority (BHA) acquired Wheaton Landing, a new 24-unit apartment complex aimed at providing stable housing for families with children in the Bremerton School District who are facing homelessness or housing instability. Enterprise, a national organization dedicated to community development, has accepted the project into its program and will co-lead efforts with Kitsap Strong to bring together key partners and design a tailored program to best serve future residents. With this important purchase, BHA continues to address the unique needs of Bremerton by ensuring that affordable housing is paired with the support necessary for residents to thrive.

“I believe this is an incredible opportunity for our city and county,” said BHA Executive Director Jill Stanton. “We take seriously our mandate to address local needs with our federal resources and believe this local solution to ending homelessness for children is our most viable path forward. We know housing is only a portion of what is needed for success and are grateful for the dedicated stakeholders involved in making this new project possible.”

Wheaton Landing is another significant public-private partnership in which BHA has responded to a recognized need by community partners to reach Bremerton’s most vulnerable residents through housing. In addition to Kitsap Mental Health Services’ Pendleton Place, Kitsap’s first permanent supportive housing complex for 72 chronically homeless individuals, and BHA’s Evergreen Bright Start, Kitsap’s first dedicated housing complex for young adults ages 18-24 exiting foster care or facing homelessness, this new property will also offer access to supportive services tailored specifically to its residents. This project is designed to be a model that can be replicated to help achieve functional zero homelessness for the student body in the Bremerton School District.

In support of its national community development initiatives, Enterprise will lead efforts to bring together key organizations to identify best practices in tenant selection, operations, and services. Wheaton Landing participating stakeholders include:

• Bremerton Housing Authority
• Enterprise
• Kitsap Strong
• Bremerton School District
• Kitsap County Affordable Housing Consortium
• Kitsap County
• City of Bremerton

The goal is to implement a holistic program that addresses the diverse needs of resident families, ensuring the best possible outcomes. Enterprise will also establish key data metrics for tracking and measuring success. Kitsap Strong is co-leading the development of the partnership structure with BHA and serves as the backbone entity.

Successful projects like this require not only good intent, seamless collaboration, specific expertise, and an understanding developer, but also the necessary funding. BHA received crucial support to acquire the newly constructed 24-unit complex located at 3256 Wheaton Way in East Bremerton, which includes:

• An assumable loan from Global Credit Union, marking the first time Global has worked with any public housing authority across the nation.
• Community Investments in Affordable Housing and HOME funds in addition to local funding support from Kitsap County and the City of Bremerton.
• Restricted funds available from the redevelopment of West Park, BHA’s successful effort to improve affordable housing across Bremerton completed in 2015.
• Ongoing rental assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs including Housing Choice Vouchers.

Wheaton Landing represents a major step forward in tackling homelessness and housing instability for families in Bremerton and Kitsap County. By bringing together resources from both the public and private sectors, BHA, Enterprise, Kitsap Strong, the Bremerton School District, and our community partners are reinforcing a continued commitment to building a stronger, more resilient community by focusing on long-term housing solutions.