NYC Affordable Housing Plan Has Unexpected Costs

A new affordable housing plan in New York City has solved some problems facing lower income residents, but has also created many woes for people who purhcased shoddy homes through the plan and have been unable to get any help from the city since.

1 minute read

November 8, 2006, 8:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

"New homeowner Ralph Munoz said the three-family home cost $532,000. Of that, $109,000 was subsidized by taxpayer dollars, lowering the price to $423,000. Then, Munoz said the extra apartments would provide rental income to help him reduce expenses and help pay the mortgage."

"'I've been fixing my house since I got there, he said."

"Munoz said the problems started shortly after he moved in. There are cracks in the foundation, a leaky roof, leaking plumbing, sewer pipes that have been cemented over and heating bills in excess of $900 each month because of poor insulation, Munoz said."

Munoz and many other new homeowners have been given the "runaround" by city housing agencies and the affordable housing developers.

FULL STORY: NYC's Affordable Housing Project Costs Homeowners

Thursday, November 2, 2006 in WNBC via MSNBC

Government / Politics Housing Urban Development New York

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