Rochelle Hobson lives in an East Flatbush apartment plagued by sewage backups, preventing her from using her bathroom for over two months. With frequent flooding and unsanitary conditions, she expresses concern for her son's safety as they seek alternatives for basic needs like bathing. The building, which has had over 500 complaints in two years, is situated near a school and daycare, heightening community concerns. The Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is involved, indicating that the building is part of a program aimed at targeting poorly maintained properties for enforcement and repair.
"I haven't taken a shower in that bathroom in over two months because of the sewage backup. I either go to another neighbor in the building or my brother's across the street to shower - my son and I. It's absolutely horrible," said Hobson.
"As parent, you supposed to be able to protect your child, take care of your child, and he tells me, 'Mommy, I want to move. Let's go. Let's go somewhere.' He's ready to go to a shelter opposed to living here are open shelter with a bunch of strangers then live here. It breaks my heart," Hobson said.
"You can smell that it reeks. It's a terrible smell that sometimes she's even like 'Mom, what's that smell?" said Michelle.
A spokesperson for HPD tells News 12 the building was selected for HPD's Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP). They say it's a targeted initiative that ramps up enforcement in the city's most poorly maintained buildings.
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