Over a year ago, residents who lived in NYCHA housing buildings were given a new way to report mold when NYCHA doesn’t respond. On Friday, those residents were informed of a way that local officials hope to hold the agency accountable. 

Rep.-elect Ritchie Torres wants NYCHA residents to know their rights when it comes to mold removal. 

“The Housing Authority cannot be trusted to effectively remove mold,” said Torress. 

Torres was joined by South Bronx Churches and NYCHA tenants on Friday to announce the details of a new law that would require NYCHA to inform residents of the Ombudsperson Call Center.

Torres says that the call center was created to hold NYCHA accountable when the agency fails to remove mold from a tenant’s apartment. 

“You have a legal right to call OCC, the Ombudsperson Call Center,” said Torres. 

Residents say mold has been an issue in their homes for years. They say using OCC has been a big help. 

In July, Torres announced that the Ombudsperson Call Center would be available for all public houses across the five boroughs. 

The new law would require NYCHA to inform residents about the call center. “And NYCHA’s require to provide annual notice to every resident physically through fliers and pamphlets, electronically through email rent statements,” said Torres. 

So far, officials say the service has helped almost 4,000 families. News 12 reached out to NYCHA for comment on the call center and has not heard back yet.