Purpose

To determine the extent of implementation of the three recommendations included in our initial audit report, Housing Preferences for Veterans  (Report 2011-N-3).

Background

Our initial report, issued on June 6, 2012, found that, although the New York State Legislature had extended the right of preference for housing to many more veterans, few actually benefited due to inaction and/or disregard by housing companies and lax enforcement by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (NYC HPD). We specifically found two housing companies in Manhattan (Hamilton House and Clinton Towers) filled vacant apartments with non-veterans even though veterans had been identified on their waiting lists. NYC HPD approved many of these non-veterans’ applications, despite the existence of veterans’ names on the developments’ waiting lists. The objective of our follow-up was to assess the extent of implementation, as of December 23, 2014, of the three recommendations included in our initial report.

Key Finding

NYC HPD has made progress in addressing the issues identified in our initial report as the three prior recommendations have been implemented.

Key Recommendations

None