Housing Authority Delays Rent Hike for Most Tenants Paying Flat Rent

The notice came as a bit of a shock a few weeks ago—flat rent in the Hoboken Housing Authority was going to go up. 

And although the Housing Authority will still increase the rent levels—an audit found that the HHA was undercharging rent, according to Executive Director Carmelo Garcia—it won't happen until the renewal date of the individual tenant's lease. The original notice stated that everybody's rent would go up by Sept. 1.

"Does that make everybody happy?" asked HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia during the Authority's August meeting. 

"I know there were many concerns," Garcia continued. "We have been considerate in the hardship." Garcia wrote an apology letter to the tenants, after many expressed their concerns. 

Most HHA residents' rent is 30 percent of their income. Flat rent, a measure that is optional, caps that number at a flat rate, for those whose incomes might have gone up, and prefer to pay less than 30 percent.

The rent will still go up as discussed, increasing incrementally over the coming three years. A one bedroom in the HHA will cost $800 a month (up from $675), a two-bedroom will cost $850 (up from $725), a three-bedroom will cost $900 (up from $780), a four-bedroom $950 (up from $835) and a five-bedroom will be $1,000 (up from $875).

Although the tenants were pleased the increase would happen during the annual renewal of the lease, rather than at the end of this month, some say a lot still needs to be done to improve their quality of life.

"There's deterioration going on inside," said LaTrenda Ross, 45. "We're walking in urine every day."

Another common complaint made during the HHA meetings is the occurrence of vandalism in the buildings. For example, the elevator at Marshall Drive is broken.

"It's been going for several months," said Ross, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment and has been living in the Housing Authority since 1989. 

Garcia acknowledged the problem of vandalism in the HHA, but also noted that—"unfortunately"—some of the vandals are HHA residents themselves. In order to catch vandalism, more cameras have been installed, said Garcia at the meeting.