By Kareem Johnson
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
HARLEM — The number of outstanding repairs at the city's public housing complexes has topped 13,000, according to a report.
The New York City Housing Authority's growing number of needed repairs comes as the city has slashed its budget, forcing the agency to cut down the number of maintenance workers in what will likely exacerbate the wait list even further, the Daily News. reported.
NYCHA is working to put together a 5-year plan to deal with the growing mountain of repair work orders, Sheila Stainback, a NYCHA spokeswoman, told the News.
NYCHA estimated that 11% of the workforce has been eliminated since 2005, hamstringing the agency's ability to carry out needed repairs of buildings that range from 40 to 70 years old, the News reported.
Harlem's Manhattanville Rehab (Group 3) development currently has about five work orders per apartment, and the complex's 111 residents are becoming discouraged, the News reported.
Twenty-three-year-old Manhattanville resident Elisa Pollanco, told the News that she “gave up hope” on the city fixing the 7 work orders in her apartment.
Among the outstanding problems are Pollanco's broken front door, which is weak and could be kicked in, she said.
Citywide, tenant groups are reportedly clamoring for action from the state and federal government to get the repairs back on track.
