A tenant of the New York City Housing Authority claims that her apartment has been plagued with various issues since the 1980s. Furthermore, she alleges that the agency is refusing to make accommodations for her disability.
Roselyn Janviar’s home is constantly plagued by repairs, flooding, and leaks. In fact, she found herself in court five times in 2023 solely due to the deplorable state of her residence. To make matters worse, a flood on January 30th exposed even more underlying issues.
Janviar expressed his frustration, stating, “This is supposed to be my haven. This is where I sleep, I eat – why should I be uncomfortable?” He mentioned the judge’s order which revealed the presence of asbestos throughout their entire apartment.
Janviar has been staying in a hotel for the past two weeks while NYCHA takes action to remove asbestos and address the flood damage in her apartment. However, NYCHA has informed her that she will be relocated to a different temporary apartment in a new NYCHA building tomorrow. Unfortunately, this new apartment will not be suitable for her disability.
Janviar, who uses an above-knee leg prosthetic, expresses her need for carpeting in her home to prevent the risk of slipping and falling. She has reached out to NYCHA to voice her concerns and requested a temporary rug, at the very least, to ensure her safety.
During the tour of the new apartment, News 12 discovered that there was no rug or carpeting present. When inquiring about this matter, NYCHA responded by stating that it is not their responsibility to provide such items.
“Housing treats individuals with disabilities as if they are nothing, disregarding their presence and needs,” expressed Janviar passionately. “It is absolutely wrong and unacceptable to treat people in such an invisible manner. This is not how we should be treating each other.”
According to a NYCHA spokesperson, Janviar has been offered several ready-to-move-in hospitality apartments for temporary relocation. However, she has chosen not to accept them, as she cannot bring herself to live in a place where she constantly fears for her safety.