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Mold Busters


NYCHA is committed to providing residents with the healthy and safe homes they deserve. To fulfill this commitment, NYCHA is taking proactive measures to meet the obligations of both the 2018 Revised Baez Consent Decree and the 2019 HUD Agreement. As part of this process, NYCHA has revised its standard procedure for addressing mold complaints and introduced “Mold Busters” – an innovative new program informed by industry standards to effectively and efficiently remediate mold. NYCHA began a citywide roll out of Mold Busters in January 2019 and completed implementation on September 2, 2019.

NYCHA will take the following measures to comprehensively address mold and moisture conditions:   

  • Better Tools: Staff will use new tools to find and fix mold’s root causes, including moisture meters and new mold-fighting paint. 
  • Enhanced Training: Beginning in January 2019, over 2,500 staff members will receive comprehensive hands-on training in performing apartment inspections for mold and mold remediation. 
  • More Accountability: A new inspection and record keeping process will identify the underlying causes of mold and/or moisture problems. A new quality assurance process will ensure that staff properly address the root causes of mold and moisture. Finally, NYCHA has implemented a regular schedule to ensure that malfunctioning roof fans are identified and repaired in a timely manner. 
  • Streamlined Response: NYCHA will prioritize and better coordinate mold-related repairs across skilled trades.            
  • Improved Communication: NYCHA will improve communication with tenants by creating new informational tools and meeting with local Resident Associations to share information about the Mold Busters process.

Resources for Residents

Residents with mold or active water leaks in their apartment should enter a work order by calling the NYCHA Customer Contact Center at (718) 707-7771. Residents can also use the MyNYCHA app or website.

Residents who have already contacted the NYCHA Customer Contact Center but still have concerns regarding mold/leaks and any associated repairs can contact the Ombudsperson Call Center (OCC) at 1-888-341-7152 or at ombnyc.com. If OCC cannot resolve your concerns, they will contact Cesar de Castro, the Ombudsperson, to resolve the issue.

The Ombudsperson will initiate a phased portfolio-wide launch of the Call Center that will be completed by July 1, 2020. The start schedule is listed below:

  • Jefferson Beta Test: November 4, 2019
  • NGO: Live as of February 3, 2020
  • Mixed Finance: Live as of March 2, 2020
  • Manhattan: Live as of April 1, 2020
  • Brooklyn: May 1, 2020
  • Bronx: June 1, 2020
  • Queens/SI: July 1, 2020

This map shows locations where OCC support is now available to NYCHA residents.