NYCHA proposes admission changes for people convicted of certain crimes

NYCHA is currently considering changes to several admission and occupancy policies when it comes to tenants who have been convicted of a crime.
Currently, NYCHA heavily considers an applicant's criminal background in its review process. But now officials are proposing changes that could make the process more fair.
People with certain criminal convictions have to wait as long as six years after serving their sentences to become eligible to move into NYCHA housing, as of now.
But NYCHA is now saying it will utilize a committee to conduct an in-depth review of every application.
This process would eliminate all-out bans on certain people trying to move into NYCHA housing.
Instead, the committee would interview the applicant and others who would be living with them. The committee would also consider evidence of rehabilitation and other conditions.
NYCHA also asks applicants if they have used an illegal drug in the last three years, and it is proposing to change this criteria to one year instead.
Federal law still requires a total ban on people convicted of production of methamphetamines in public housing and people on the lifetime registry for sex offenses.
A current tenant who lives at NYCHA's Bronx River Houses and has children says if NYCHA loosens restrictions to make a fairer process, he wants to see more security measures implemented as well. Christopher Garcia says NYCHA would have to think about children and the community as well if it goes through with this new process.
NYCHA is making these policy changes availabe for a 30-day open public comment period and asks tenants to submit their comments to them.