Neighborhood Safety Initiatives

Housing is a human right and the foundation for strong communities. Access to a safe and affordable home creates economic and community stability. This fact sheet highlights the challenges and how our staff are working to prevent evictions, help landlords address health hazards, and increase tenant financial and legal empowerment. By addressing issues early, we keep people safely housed and avoid legal system involvement that can affect employment, family security, and future access to stable housing.

A lifelong New Yorker, Jukie Tsai’s work with the Center has taken him all over the city. “I’m still surprised by how massive this city is and how many wonderful communities there are.” As a planner with our Neighborhood Safety Initiatives program, Jukie currently works with residents in public housing to co-create meaningful community change through tenant-directed projects including building community gardens, designing lighting improvements, and creating public artwork. “There’s so much expertise among residents about what is going on and needs to be addressed.

This fact sheet describes Neighborhood Safety Initiatives, a program of the Center for Justice Innovation, seeks to improve public safety in New York City by investing in residents, transforming public spaces, and influencing policy. The program provides training to local residents, agency partners and key community stakeholders in community organizing, human-centered design, and re-envisioning public spaces to promote wellbeing. Residents propose tangible solutions to challenges and learn how to access the resources needed to carry them out and support community safety.