Rafael Hernandez Houses (or Hernandez Houses) is located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, bounded by East Houston Street, Allen Street, and the Stanton Street. Completed in 1971, the development consists of a single 17-story building housing roughly 180 families.
Shorter than most NYCHA complexes, Hernandez Houses is not part of New York City’s public housing system. The building was sponsored by Puerto Rican composer and activist Rafael Hernández Marín who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War I, reflecting the cultural pride and heritage of the Latino community that has long lived on the Lower East Side.
In the decades since its construction, the surrounding neighborhood has undergone gentrification, prompting concerns among residents about the erasure of cultural heritage, displacement, and rising living costs.
Like many public housing developments, Hernandez Houses has faced maintenance challenges, including mold, broken pipes, and faulty elevators—problems often linked to underfunding and bureaucratic inefficiency.
Despite these hardships, residents have remained united, determined to advocate for improvements. Residents and local organizations continue to fight for better living conditions, safe homes, and reliable maintenance.
Many prominent residents are teachers and community organizers who dedicate their careers to supporting and empowering the neighborhood’s youth.
Despite these challenges, Hernandez Houses exemplifies the resilience typical of New York public housing—where struggle, heritage, and cultural identity are embedded in every corner of the building.
