• Agency: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (NYC HPD)
• Status: Projects Under Regulation

The Special Initiatives Program (SIP) was a turnkey program to develop vacant city-owned property where either New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) or the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) supervised private contractors during construction, and then conveyed ownership of all newly-constructed or rehabilitated buildings to qualified non-profit sponsors. Originally, 100 percent of the units were reserved for homeless residents, but HPD later modified the program to require a mix of 60 percent homeless, 20 percent low-income, and 20 percent moderate-income households. The formerly homeless population was eligible for Section 8 vouchers, and the rent revenue from Section 8 residents not only covered building maintenance costs but also provided a revenue stream which allowed non-profit sponsors to make social services available to the residents.