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PUTTING THE HEAT ON NYCHA

House Passes Meng-Engel Legislation in Response to Insufficient Heat Concerns at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Buildings

Legislation sponsored by U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-Queens) and Eliot Engel (D-Bronx) in response to concerns of insufficient heat at some New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings was recently passed by the House of Representatives.

The Meng-Engel amendment, which passed unanimously, requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue model guidelines for minimum heating requirements at public housing units that receive federal housing funds. The goal is improved public housing agency heating standards so that tenants will not be forced to endure cold temperatures during winter months.

This winter, numerous NYCHA tenants – including residents at the Pomonok Houses in Queens and other NYCHA complexes in the City – complained that they were without heat during several frigid nights. Meng personally received complaints from constituents.

“Right now – in the middle of winter, when almost one in five public housing residents in New York City are age 62 or older, and more than a quarter of them are children under the age of 18, I feel that this matter could ultimately be one of life or death,” said Meng. “We do not want to return to an age in which tenants of local public housing authorities are forced to revert to heating their homes with stoves. Many of us here are all too familiar with the unfortunate tragedies that occur as a result of that practice, and the fires that can also occur when residents are forced to rely on individual space heaters."

Meng noted that a letter she and other members of New York City's Congressional delegation sent to the head of NYCHA complaining about the lack of heat has gone unanswered. The letter was sent a month and a half ago. To see the letter, click here.

“As someone who grew up in a New York City housing project, I was outraged by the revelation that NYCHA properties had been shutting down boilers during the coldest months of the year, said Engel. “A practice that deprives tenants of heat during bitter winter nights doesn’t just fail to meet tenants’ most basic need for a safe and decent home – it is reckless and demeaning. Myself, Rep. Meng, and eight other Members of the New York City delegation immediately sent a letter to NYCHA officials calling on them to condemn and prohibit this outrageous practice. But it is important for Congress to ensure that all Americans, not just New Yorkers, who are living in public housing have a safe home throughout the winter months. That is exactly what this amendment will do, and I am pleased it has passed.”

"I am proud we are fighting hard to raise the standard of living in public housing and increase the quality of life for our constituents,”said Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Manhattan/Bronx), Dean of New York's Congressional delegation. “Winter months are tough for everyone, but they are especially harsh on low-income individuals and the elderly. Thanks to the joint efforts of my colleagues, led by Reps. Meng and Engel, even our most vulnerable New Yorkers can be soon assured that they will not be left in the cold."

The Meng-Engel legislation is included in the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (H.R. 3700) which passed the House 427 to 0, and now heads to the Senate.

There are 328 NYCHA developments throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Those developments include more than four hundred thousand residents living in twenty-five hundred buildings.

NYCHA is the largest housing agency in the country.

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The following are the full remarks that Meng delivered on the floor of the House during consideration of the legislation:

“This amendment would require HUD to publish model guidelines for minimum heating requirements for public housing units.

Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman some public housing agencies across this country have struggled with the fundamental task of providing adequate housing to low-income residents.

Less than two months ago, the New York Daily News and Reuters published a series of stories about tenants at the Frederic Douglass Houses in New York City complaining that they were without heat for several frigid evenings in a row.

In response to these complaints, Public Advocate Letitia James and Legal Services NYC filed a lawsuit on behalf of the tenants, and in their filing they quote a November 25th e-mail from Robert Knapp, head of the New York City Housing Authority’s heating management services unit, stating: ‘NYCHA official policy…is heat shut off between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. when the outside temps are above 20 degrees. When the outside temperature falls below 20 degrees, heat is given through the night.’

Frankly, this is appalling. Many Democratic Representatives from New York City agreed with me, and that is why we submitted a letter, led by my good friends, and colleagues, Representatives Engel and Rangel, to the head of NYCHA urging it to completely abandon the current heating policy.

That letter was submitted to NYCHA, the largest housing agency in the country – overseeing more than four hundred thousand residents living in twenty-five hundred buildings, more than a month ago and we have yet to receive a response.

That is why I have come to the floor today.

While it is not in our authority to mandate what a building’s heating requirements should be in any particular city across this vast country, clearly some help is needed.

Apparently, some local agencies might need official guidance from HUD outlining the fact that it’s a good idea to turn the heat on at night when the temperature outside is below freezing.

I was hopeful things would not come to this point, but right now – in the middle of winter, when almost one in five public housing residents in my city are age 62 or older, and more than a quarter of them are children under the age of 18, I feel that this matter could ultimately be one of life or death.

We do not want to return to an age in which tenants of local public housing authorities are forced to revert to heating their homes with stoves. Many of us here are all too familiar with the unfortunate tragedies that occur as a result of that practice, and the fires that can also occur when residents are forced to rely on individual space heaters.

For not only the safety of public housing residents across America, but also their humanity, heating standards must be improved.

It is my hope that this amendment today, which mandates that HUD produce model heating guidelines, will assist in this endeavor.

It is also my hope that all of my colleagues will support this effort, and with that, Mr. Chairman I reserve the balance of my time.”

You can view the video of my floor statement here.

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