A new 28-page report is detailing worsening physical conditions at New York City Housing Authority buildings over recent years.
According to city Comptroller Scott Stringer, data analyzed between 2002 and 2011 shows that NYCHA apartments with at least one reported problem jump from 60 percent to 79 percent. It found that living conditions for public housing tenants were especially lacking when compared to market-rate housing.
The report highlights several trouble spots, including broken or missing windows, which saw a 945-percent surge between 2005 and 2011. Other areas of concern include water leaks, broken plaster and peeling paint, cracks and holes in interior walls and ceilings, and rodents.
With cold weather coming, heating is another major issue facing NYCHA residents. In the time period analyzed, 27 percent of public housing buildings experienced faulty equipment, compared to 11 percent of market-rate buildings. In that final year, there were about 43,000 NYCHA heating issues reported.
Overall, the report says that the Bronx has the lowest quality rent-regulated and market-rate rental housing in the city.
Stringer is advocating for more funding, especially from the federal government, to make repairs and improve conditions.