Facing Homelessness, Bronx Tenants Displaced by a Fire Demand Solutions

UPDATE: In response to questions from reporters, Wavecrest spokespeople
have said that no tenants will be without housing while waiting for repairs to the damaged
units. The tenants’ association has the following response: “We are heartened by
Wavecrest’s commitment to extend temporary accommodations. We hope Wavecrest
demonstrates this same level of commitment in providing and following a timeline for
repairs and ensuring all displaced tenants can return safely to their homes.”

BRONX, NY – Today, tenants at the HUD project-based Section 8 development at 1235 Woodycrest Avenue held a press conference on the building steps to speak about the mismanagement of shelter and repair responses from the building manager, Wavecrest.

In August, sixteen units were damaged by fire, and tenants were temporarily housed in local hotels. In project-based Section 8 buildings, qualifying tenants pay 30% of their income in rent, and the rest is covered by a program similar to the more common Section 8 voucher. However, unlike the voucher, the benefit cannot be transferred to another apartment, and temporarily relocated tenants are often unable to pay full rent. As a result, HUD and landlords are required to collaborate to find alternate housing solutions. At the start of February, all sixteen households received notice from Wavecrest that they would have to leave the hotel by February 13, with no additional resources or support provided. Repairs had not yet begun on the damaged units.

“What this means is that they are making her and all of these people live with the fear that they may become homeless any day,” said Daniel Alifonso, whose mother was displaced by the fire. “I say, shame on Wavecrest.”

In recent days, responding to pressure from the tenants’ association, Wavecrest has told lawyers and elected officials that they were working on solutions, but tenants had yet to hear anything.

Other tenants at the rally spoke about a general pattern of neglect and poor management in the building.

“This is not just about one building. This is about tenant rights. This is about accountability. This is about justice.” said Pamela Ward, who was not displaced in the fire but has led efforts to build a tenants’ association in the building. “We will not stop speaking. We will not stop organizing.”

Tenants received the organizing support of New Settlement’s membership-driven tenant organizing project, Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA).

“Greatest city in the world, New York, and we’re living like this.” said Randy Dillard, a community leader with CASA.

Many of the tenant association members are represented by Bronx Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition.

“Some tenants were placed in hotels, but as tenants have already stated, they received a letter saying that the financial assistance would stop just before Valentine’s Day, and they will have nowhere to go,” said Eliza Schaffler, at attorney at Bronx Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition.

At the press conference, the tenants were also supported by Julissa Gonzalez, Deputy Public Advocate for Housing Equity. “Our office will continue to monitor the situation closely and push for accountability until every displaced resident is safely housed and treated with the dignity they deserve,” she said.

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ABOUT NEW SETTLEMENTS’ COMMUNITY ACTION FOR SAFE APARTMENTS (CASA)
Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) is New Settlement’s housing organizing initiative. CASA is made up of community residents in our densely populated and underserved area of the Southwest Bronx who work together to build our knowledge and leadership to improve the living conditions in our neighborhood and maintain affordable housing through collective action. CASA’s multifaceted work combines building-specific tenant organizing, neighborhood-based campaigns, tenants’ rights workshops, legal clinics, monthly community meetings and a leadership development program. CASA also heavily participates in the work of coalitions that advocate for legislation to preserve affordable housing and better protect tenants.

ABOUT BRONX LEGAL SERVICES’ TENANT RIGHTS COALITION
Bronx Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition, a program of Legal Services NYC, fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, Bronx Legal Services has challenged systemic injustice and helped clients meet basic needs for housing, access to high-quality education, health care, family stability, and income and economic security. Legal Services NYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country, with neighborhood-based offices across all five boroughs helping more than 110,000 New Yorkers annually. The work of Bronx Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition is funded by NYC Human Resources Administration’s Anti-Harassment and Tenant Protection program.