'Horrible situation': Seniors at NYCHA complex say they've been without heat for months

News 12 found one woman covering herself with coats to stay warm.

News 12 Staff

Feb 20, 2021, 1:25 AM

Updated 1,332 days ago

Share:

Seniors in a Bronx NYCHA complex say they have been living without heat for months and claim it’s unbearable. 
Tenant Association Leader Queen McFarland says she’s just as stunned at how little NYCHA did about the icy temperatures. 
“It seems like they’re saying, 'Let them die, they’re old anyway, let them die, nobody cares,'” said McFarland. 
Blanca Nieves says she has lived at 2070 Clinton Ave. for almost a decade. She says her apartment is freezing cold every winter. 
Residents of the seniors-only complex and City Councilman Fernando Cabrera addressed the issue just two and a half weeks after News 12 first covered the same problem in the same place. 
“It’s a horrible situation. I thought NYCHA would have taken care of this. To come back and hear they’re going through the exact same problem freezing, it baffles me,” said Cabrera. 
Residents say five tenants have suffered asthma attacks amid the severe cold. 
News 12 found one woman covering herself with coats to stay warm.
Contacted by News 12 for comment, NYCHA said, "“Providing our residents with uninterrupted heating service continues to be our top priority. We had four open work orders last night. Staff visited the apartments and found temperatures between 71 to 73 degrees. We currently have our heat staff looking into three open no heat work orders. We have also completed installation of weatherproofing at all terrace doors where residents requested and are continuing outreach to residents who may still want weatherproofing.”
Residents experiencing any issues, including heat or hot water loss in their apartment should create a work ticket by using the MyNychaApp or by calling the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771.