NY1 For You: Elderly Brooklyn Woman May Lose Home Over NYCHA Dispute
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A serious mistake may cost an elderly Brooklyn woman her home and she says it's the city's fault. NY1's Susan Jhun filed the following report.Elizabeth Pulgiano has lived in the same apartment for close to 20 years and now, after all that time, the 85-year-old may be forced to leave.
“My mom's been here over 15 years. We never had a problem and it seems nobody can care anymore,” said her son Joseph Pulgiano.
Care that the Section 8 tenant may lose her rent subsidy by no fault of her own.
Elizabeth Pulgiano's landlord, John Franzitta, said every year he receives a form from NYCHA, the New York City Housing Authority, asking whether he'll renew his tenant's lease. This past year, Franzitta says he didn't receive the form.
“They said 'well, we did away with that form. Just send us a letter,'” Franzitta said.
So Franzitta sent his paperwork in July. By October, he hadn't heard anything and Elizabeth Pulgiano's lease was up in November.
“They said they never got it. I resent it back to them in October and I sent it 'registered mail return receipt requested' which I received back. Come November, they said they never got the paperwork,” Franzitta said.
Elizabeth Pulgiano was also required to send paperwork, which her son claims he did three times, even hand delivering it once. Still, NYCHA claimed they never got it.
Then finally, in March, NYCHA notified Franzitta that they received the paperwork and everything was approved. He thought the matter was settled until he received a notice from NYCHA in May that Elizabeth Pulgiano was removed from the rent subsidy rolls because paperwork wasn't filed.
NY1 contacted NYCHA and a spokeswoman said she couldn't discuss Elizabeth Pulgiano's case due to confidentiality issues.
However, after inquiries, NYCHA notified Elizabeth Pulgiano that a hearing has been scheduled for mid-August.
In the meantime, Franzitta said he's paying for NYCHA's mess.
“I have a mortgage that has to be paid every month. I need help,” Franzitta said.
A maddening breakdown in communication which may leave Elizabeth Pulgiano out in the cold.