‘I’m Scared’: Thousands in New York Public Housing Are Behind on Rent

NYCHA is pledging to avoid evictions. But many tenants in arrears are anxious.

Tens of thousands of residents of New York City public housing, many of whom lost their jobs after the city locked down two years ago, have fallen behind on their rent, raising fears that it will set off a rise in evictions.

The problem has been compounded because public housing tenants have so far been shut out of a depleted pandemic rent relief program.

The New York City Housing Authority, or NYCHA, which runs the nation’s largest public housing system, is owed more than $364 million of the rent it charged in 2021, the largest level of unpaid rent ever, the agency said.