We're not sure how far the Morris Houses are from the infamously huge rat found at a Bronx foot locker, but the housing project definitely has a terrible rat problem. A concerned resident contacted MyFoxNY about the situation. The news crew spotted many, many rats— "Big ones... little ones... even babies"—as well as many burrows. more ›

As has been made pretty clear by now, there isn't much money in the government's coffers these days. Which means that the city is getting creative with the ways it raises cash-and that is why the New York City Housing Authority is currently exploring the pretty audacious move of putting advertisements on the 334 developments it runs across the city. You'll be shocked (shocked!) to know that not all NYCHA residents are thrilled at this prospect! more ›

A new playground should be something to celebrate... except when the city puts a big ol' jail-themed jungle gym in the middle of a Bed-Stuy Housing Authority property. Black and Brown News reported on the new addition to the Tompkins Houses, where they point out "Black and Latino children live and play. (Disproportionately, Black and Latinos enter the criminal justice system." Reportedly the New York City Housing Authority orders and selects the items, and a spokesperson told the site, “We are looking into it and assessing the situation and what needs to be done.” Hopefully they'll replace it with something a little less bleak and a lot more hopeful. Have you spotted any prison playgrounds in other neighborhoods? [via Brownstoner] more ›

Oh, the wacky world of municipal agency billing! The New York City Housing Authority, the city agency which manages the city's public housing, pays the city $200 million in fees for services including water, trash, and police protection. The NYCHA also has a deficit of $170 million, and the NY Times looks at the issues involved. To city officials, these fees are small relative to what they could really be charged. To others, it's crazy that the city is forcing an agency with financial problems to pay up, especially when services are being cut back. more ›

Yesterday, the New School held a forum to discuss how New York City will save its public housing. The New York City Housing Authority, which is the city's primary sources of affordable housing to 400,000 residents, has an annual shortfall of $225 million. more ›

"Hard Times in the Projects," an in-depth review of New York City's publicly subsidized housing program, reveals how living conditions have declined over the past few decades. Federal legislators have reduced funds while operating costs have soared. As a consequence, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) struggles to maintain its buildings, collect the trash, or respond to service calls. Residents have experienced rent hikes and service cuts, and face the possible closure of senior centers and community programs. While New York State and City governments also cut funding during the 1990s and 2000s, the administrations of Bloomberg and Spitzer have recently anounced the restoration of some subsidies. more ›

Not only is that a struggle that every starving artist is facing, but also those who are just trying to pay the average housing cost in a city where rents are skyrocketing. As many of our friends and colleagues have had to do - get a day job and work on your art at night so you can pay the rent. more ›

Sometimes people just don't like dogs, and one of those people is Jeanne Farley. Farley is suing her apartment's management company to, as she tells the Daily News, "get rid of the dogs and play by the rules." Sixty-four year old Farley has a fear of dogs (cynophobia) points out that the rules at Penn South does have a ban on dogs and her lease says "no animals of any kind" (!!) are not allowed. She says, "I can't go in the elevator if there's a dog in there, and I'm afraid to go in some of the hallways. I've never been bitten, but the growling, the teeth and the jumping just scares me." more ›

The Staten Island Advance had an interesting tale of pet ownership and living in city housing. Patricia Leonardo, a tenant in the Mariners Harbor Houses, complained about roaches in her apartment, only to be evicted for owning two dogs in the apartment. A building manager also accompanied the exterminators, and since the New York City Housing Authority prohibits more than one dog or cat (though many pet owners do have more than one dog or cat and get away with it), that's a lease violation! Leonardo thinks the NYCHA is kicking her out for making a stink about the roaches, but of course there's another wrinkle:

The exterminators who visited Ms. Leonardo's apartment concluded that her housekeeping contributed to the roach problem, she said. more ›