As New York City experiences shifting demographics and rising market rents, its public housing portfolio plays a crucial role in enhancing the economic and racial/ethnic diversity of many neighborhoods. Public housing provides essential housing options for low-income New Yorkers, who are disproportionately Black and Hispanic, in higher-income and gentrifying areas. However, prior research conducted with Abt Associates revealed that public housing residents often feel disconnected from the surrounding neighborhoods. Even if their rents remain affordable, the visible changes and rising costs of goods and services can pressure them to leave. Therefore, efforts to maintain public housing should be coupled with strategies to integrate residents into the evolving commercial and social landscapes, ensuring all residents benefit from the positive aspects of diversity.

https://furmancenter.org/files/NYCHA_Diversity_Brief_Final_4-30-2019.pdf