Learning from Vienna: The Social Housing Model’s Lessons for NYCHA

Author: Lara Stein

Field of Study: Philosophy, Politics and Law

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Will Glovinsky

Easel: 53

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing has been plagued with problems: concentrated poverty and ghettoization, mold, outages, lead, and other health concerns. Some scholars attribute these challenges to the fact that NYCHA eligibility is strictly means-tested and primarily intended for low-income residents, resulting in disinvestment and public neglect. By contrast, the Vienna social housing model is loosely means-tested and includes middle-income residents, producing a high social mix and better conditions for tenants. There is demonstrated interest in the Vienna model among American policymakers, but the comparison between this system and NYCHA’s is relatively unexplored. Drawing from court documents and NYCHA tenant and worker testimonies, this paper compares these two models and their respective impacts on social mix and ghettoization. Additionally, this paper examines controversies surrounding NYCHA infill programs and how they can be modified to better align with the Vienna model, addressing tenants’ concerns about displacement and gentrification.