Brooklyn woman battles mold infestation in Crown Heights NYCHA apartment
Precious B. says she first reported the problem to the New York City Housing Authority in August.
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A Crown Heights resident says her home has been overrun by mold and leaks, an ongoing battle she’s been fighting for over two months.
Standing in her bathroom, Precious B. pointed to a piece of tape holding up cardboard where her cabinet used to be. “This is what’s replacing my medicine cabinet - cardboard,” she said.
Precious explained that she’s been living in what she calls a “nightmare”, dealing with toxic mold and persistent water damage throughout her apartment that she's lived in for over 14 years.
She says she first reported the problem to the New York City Housing Authority in August, after noticing mold growing above her stove while cooking. “I kindly mentioned to them that this is very important. It’s a safety hazard because it’s mold,” she recalled.
An inspector visited her unit, removed a leaking kitchen pipe and the damaged bathroom cabinet, and temporarily covered the area with cardboard, stating they would return to complete the repairs. But according to Precious, no one ever came back.
“They claimed they were coming back the following week. No one came, no one showed,” she said.
Following the submission of three work tickets, Precious says she’s still living with mold and lead exposure, pooling water leaks, and no clear resolution. Her next scheduled repair date isn’t until Jan. 15, 2026.
Unable to use her kitchen safely, she’s been forced to rely on takeout to feed her family. “I have to sit here and not be able to cook in my kitchen - make it make sense,” she said.
“All I want is to get my stuff fixed so I can at least cook in my kitchen for Thanksgiving.”
NYCHA confirmed to News 12 that they’ve already conducted mold and lead inspections and plan to conduct further environmental testing this week. Officials also say they will continue working with Precious to coordinate and schedule the needed repairs.
For now, Precious continues to wait with hopes that her home will be safe and livable again before the holidays arrive.
