I reported and co-produced this 2024 episode of NPR’s Code Switch podcast, which I pitched as an expanded version of reporting I did with 17-year-old Fanta Kaba as part of a series on housing, gentrification and the meaning of home for WNYC’s Radio Rookies program. We spoke with residents of NYCHA — New York City’s public housing authority — as well as advocates and NYCHA officials to break down what it means when public housing goes private.

The episode explains the difference between the Section 8 and Section 9 housing programs and what the latest NYCHA changes mean for residents. Fanta’s personal story, about how her family found stability and community in public housing after living in a shelter, provides a framework for the episode, which is packed with information that helps listeners understand what’s at stake as private developers become more involved in public housing.