Public Housing Community Fund and Rising Tide Effect Launch Third Year of NYCHA Swim Safety Corps

NEW YORK, NY – This month, the Public Housing Community Fund and Rising Tide Effect launched the third year of NYCHA Swim Safety Corps, a groundbreaking initiative that equips NYCHA youth with lifesaving water safety skills. The six-week training program provides water safety education and career exploration opportunities for nearly 100 youth aged 16 to 24 living in NYCHA communities.

The program has grown exponentially since its launch in 2023, offering intensive training that equips participants with lifesaving swim skills, water rescue training, CPR/AED certification, and exposure to careers in the blue economy. Participants earn up to $2,475 in salary through New York City’s Department of Youth and Community Development’s (DYCD) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) while taking part in the program, ensuring that they can fully engage in training without financial burden.

Additionally, this year, participants will participate in a “Water Rescue Demo Day” at Beach 65th on Rockaway Beach on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The nearly 100 Swim Corps members will witness a live beach rescue demo, learn water safety skills, and discover careers in emergency services from FDNY, NYPD and NYC Parks lifeguards.

“The Swim Safety Corps is about more than just learning to swim, it’s about saving lives and creating career pathways that many NYCHA youth never imagined possible,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community. “Too many NYCHA youth lack access to safe swimming environments, and this program directly addresses that gap by providing access, education, and opportunity for long-term career growth while also fostering a lifelong connection to water. We’re proud to continue growing this program with our incredible partners to ensure every participant leaves stronger, safer, and more confident, both in and out of the water.”

“Swim Corps is a transformative model grounded in public health, equity, and youth development,” said Kaitlin Krause, Founder and Executive Director of Rising Tide Effect. “We’re proud to lead this program and bring life-saving water safety education to NYCHA communities and beyond in partnership with PHCF.”

“The NYCHA Swim Safety Corps is an incredible initiative that pairs valuable training with exposure to viable career tracks for young NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Through the Corps, NYCHA youth are not only receiving the swimming and lifesaving skills necessary to succeed in positions within the blue economy, but also equitable access to diverse water-based experiences to address the disparity in swim safety education within NYCHA communities. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Public Housing Community Fund and Rising Tide Effect for their partnership on this amazing program and their dedication to NYCHA youth.”

“DYCD’s partnership with Rising Tide’s Swim Safety Corp has played a pivotal role in empowering NYC youth—particularly those living in NYCHA developments and underserved communities—by providing access to aquatic programs,” said Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Keith Howard. “This impactful collaboration not only introduces participants to fundamental swimming skills and kayaking, but emphasizes the critical importance of water safety. Public safety is a top priority of Mayor Adams, and Swim Safety Corp helps ensure that our young people are safe on land and at sea.”

“As the operator of NYC Ferry, Hornblower Group is proud to once again partner with the Public Housing Community Fund and Rising Tide Effect for the third year of NYCHA Swim Safety Corps to ensure New Yorkers of all backgrounds safely benefit from the city’s more than 500 miles of coastline, reliable waterborne transit, and rewarding maritime career opportunities,” said Jeffery Brault, Vice President of Global Public Affairs of Hornblower Group.

“The Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) team is thrilled once again to support this critically important program for NYCHA residents. Safety is priority #1 whether on a worksite or in the water. With NYC’s physical and economic connection to water it’s vital that all residents have the opportunity to learn to swim and explore blue economy career paths,” said Pete Rose, Senior Director of Hydro-Quebec and CHPE.

“We are proud to continue our partnership alongside Oxford Properties Group with NYCHA, Public Housing Community, and Rising Tide Effect on the wonderful work they are doing,” said Andrew Rosen, Executive Vice President at Related Companies. “It has been incredible to be part of the tremendous growth of this program over the years offering youth unique career exploration opportunities in addition to critical water safety education and skills.”

Throughout the six week program that comprises the NYCHA Safety Swim Corps, there will be 150 hours of training, including classroom instruction, pool and open-water training, and CPR/AED Training Certification in collaboration with the American Red Cross and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). The program looks to introduce participants to diverse water-based experiences that establish a lifelong connection to water and expose young people to opportunities within the blue economy and careers in conservation and stewardship. These activities include surfing, kayaking, weekly workshops, and site visits with guest speakers. Participants will also visit NYC Ferry’s fleet at the Brooklyn Navy Yard to explore local blue economy careers.

The program will provide participants with nutritional education to support their physical health, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness training, as well as access to professional development skills. These soft skills will be crucial in navigating stress and managing high-pressure situations in and around water.

The Public Housing Community Fund and its partners recognize the challenges many NYCHA youth face, and the program removes economic and logistical barriers. Support includes transportation vouchers, swim equipment and gear, daily lunch and snacks, free Chromebooks for e-learning, interview training, and resume building.

Rising Tide Effect launched the Swim Corps in partnership with the Public Housing Community Fund in 2023 to address the urgent disparity in swim safety and drowning prevention within NYCHA communities. New York City is a water-centric metropolis with strong currents, rip tides, and sudden drop-offs on its beaches, posing significant drowning risks. The city’s persistent lifeguard shortages have exacerbated this danger, resulting in widespread public pool and beach closures that disproportionately impact historically underserved communities. Nationally, Black children are seven times more likely to drown than their white peers. For residents of NYCHA communities, where 95% of the population identifies as Black, Hispanic, or Asian, the lack of accessible, safe swimming environments is a public health and safety crisis. Given the systemic barriers to swim education in these communities, including limited pool access, generational fear of water, and economic constraints, these communities remain at heightened risk of drowning incidents.

Since its pilot, the program has experienced fourfold growth, expanding participation from 17 youth in 2023 to 70 in 2024, with an exceptional 94% graduation rate, and nearly 100 participants this summer. The program is made possible thanks to the generous support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Related Companies, Oxford Properties Group, Champlain Hudson Power Express/TDI, NYC Ferry and others.

As the program enters its third year, the Public Housing Community Fund and its partners aim to secure multi-year funding to sustain the impact it has on the community.

Source: Public Housing Community Fund

Photo credits: Rising Tide Effect