New York, NY —

The head of the city's sprawling public housing system is leaving to take another job. Tino Hernandez served as the Housing Authority's chairman for seven years and will soon lead a substance abuse program called Samaritan Village. His departure comes as public housing faces a $150-million budget gap, and the prospect of community center closures and lay offs. Hernandez grew up in public housing and City Councilwoman Rosie Mendez says as housing chairman, he understood the need to serve tenants.

MENDEZ: Those are things I would like to see in the next chairman, a commitment to maintaining whatever social services the Housing Authority will continue to operate, a commitment that they will not demolish any public housing or sell off any of its current buildings in their portfolio.

REPORTER: At a budget hearing today, Housing officials reiterated plans to close 18 community centers and transfer social service programs to other city agencies.

The city will conduct a national search for a new Housing Authority chief. In the interim, General Counsel Ricardo Morales will fill the position.