REES Milestone: 20,000 Resident Referrals to Jobs, Trainings, & More!

NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) is the one-stop shop for NYCHA residents looking to be connected to employment and career advancement, adult education and vocational training, financial empowerment, and business development. REES recently marked a milestone when it made its 20,000th referral to connect a resident to a new opportunity. 

REES partners with organizations throughout New York City who provide these services, and NYCHA residents and Section 8 participants can be connected to organizations in their geographic zone so that they can access services in their area. (Read some of the REES NYCHA resident success stories that The NYCHA Journal has covered in the past.) 

South Beach Houses resident Ashly Torres was lucky number 20,000, and REES Zone Coordinator for Staten Island Sheela Sreekumar was the NYCHA employee who referred her to services. 

REES Zone Coordinators partner with resident leaders and local organizations to connect residents to the economic services they need close to home. They make a substantial amount of referrals in their interactions with residents during recruitment events, at tabling and community events, working with the property management offices, and while at developments on their twice weekly field days. 

South Beach Houses resident Ashly Torres recounted the story: “I was sitting on a bench with my neighbor and she was outside putting flyers up. She said, ‘Is anybody looking for work?’ and I yelled, ‘I am!’” 

Ms. Sreekumar asked Ms. Torres to fill out an application, which she completed and sent along with her resume. Ms. Sreekumar called her back and told Ms. Torres about the opportunities she had that fit the type of work she was looking for, including positions at a few REES partner organizations. Through the Jobs-Plus Equus Workforce Solutions partner located in Staten Island, Ms. Torres had to decide between multiple job offers, and is currently working as a recruiter with True Care.  

“Jobs-Plus-Equus Workforce Solutions has been working with REES and the zone coordinators since 2013,” said Marisol Figueroa, Project Director of JobsPlus-Equus Workforce Solutions. “We have successfully connected members to training, employment, and workshops, helping them pursue a career path, gain skills needed to earn a livable wage, and have access to financial counseling services that empower them to live a better life. Sheela, our REES Zone Coordinator, is very dedicated to the residents as well as to the partners. Her follow up is consistent and together we have made an impact on the lives of the residents we serve.”

Ms. Sreekumar said that making the 20,000th referral was luck and that she feels fortunate to work with the REES team on supporting residents. “I love having the opportunity to work with people, and I love this job because we can provide people with so many services: send people to college, to get their GED, to help them start their businesses and find job and training opportunities.” 

“I am so proud of the work of the REES Zone Coordination and Intake & Outreach Teams in making referrals, they go above and beyond to make sure residents are connected,” said Michelle Raymie, Assistant Director of Outreach and Zone Coordination for REES. “I also want to recognize others who play an integral part in the referral system – from our Property Management colleagues who assess residents’ needs and make referrals to our REES partners who respond by reaching out to connect residents to their services and offerings – it is because of all the players that the referral system works and benefits NYCHA residents. Stories like Ms. Torres’ show the power of just how one referral to a partner, and the partner’s response to it, can potentially change lives!” 

There are numerous ways for NYCHA residents to be referred to REES partner organizations. At their developments, they can talk to their housing assistants or their REES Zone Coordinators when they’re on site. They can call the REES Hotline at 718-289-8100 to speak to a referral associate. Residents can also log on to NYCHA’s Self-Service Portal and go to Opportunity Connect to refer themselves to partner organizations. Section 8 participants can also use the Self-Service Portal and call the REES Hotline. 
 
Visit OpportunityNYCHA – REES or call the REES Hotline at 718-289-8100 to learn more and sign up for an information session. 

Feature photo caption: Sheela Sreekumar and Marisol Figueroa at a Family Day event.