OUR FORGOTTEN BOROUGH | 'Weak oversight' is failing Mitchell-Lama residents - Bronx Times

Mitchell-Lama housing was created in the 1950s to provide affordable rental homes and ownership opportunities across New York. Many Bronx and New York City households are struggling to keep their homes long term due to insufficient proactive oversight and support by city and state agencies. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reported that audits found residents living in hazardous conditions that oversight agencies failed to prevent or remediate. Examples include Evergreen Gardens with mold, cracked plaster, rats, non-working appliances, and exterior wall holes, and Jamie Towers with mismanagement and limited state assistance. The Division of Homes and Community Renewal stated it has a limited role in day-to-day management but is investing nearly $500 million in repairs and providing technical assistance and changes recommended in prior audits.

"Mitchell-Lama housing across New York was created in the 1950s to provide affordable rental homes and ownership opportunities. But for many in the Bronx and the rest of New York City, the dream of keeping their New York City home for the long run is slipping away. According to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the Mitchell-Lama program and its more than 45,000 New York City households are suffering due to a lack of proactive oversight and support by the city and state."

"DiNapoli has audited multiple Mitchell-Lama properties across the state and found that many residents are living in hazardous conditions that the oversight agencies -the state Division of Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR) and city Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)- failed to prevent or remediate. For instance, at Evergreen Gardens in Soundview, residents told the Bronx Times about extensive mold, cracked plaster, rats, non-working appliances, holes in the exterior walls and other problems at the property following a comptroller's audit released in January."

"And less than two miles away at Jamie Towers, mismanagement has run rampant, with shareholder board members saying the state has provided little help despite being the designated oversight agency. The comptroller is currently auditing the development. In a statement sent to the Bronx Times, the Division of Homes and Community Renewal said it has “a limited role in overseeing the day-to-day management of Mitchell-Lama housing, which is privately-owned and managed.”"

"“HCR, within its limited statutory authority, is working diligently with Mitchell-Lama housing companies to invest nearly $500 million in state funding for critical repairs, offering direct technical assistance, and implementing several changes recommended in a previous audit by [the comptroller].” But the comptroller has repeatedly called out HPD and DHCR for “weak” oversight of Mitchell-Lama manag"

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