Shanicque Sapp has spent the past six months waiting for renovations on her PACT NYCHA apartment.
It's a unit that was once covered in raw sewage when pipes burst in January, midway through a renovation that began in October.
While repairs were underway, she was placed in a temporary apartment, but despite not having access to her original unit, she has continued to receive electric bills for it.
"They are using our electricity for the renovation," Sapp said. "It’s under our name, so this is what we are dealing with."
Sapp and her son were hopeful when management told her she could return on June 5. But when she arrived, she was met with a strong odor from burst pipes in the basement and a mess left on the floor. Since then, she says she has received no further updates.
"I noticed there was sewage in the basement, and the beam that holds up the apartments was disintegrating," she said. "They gave me the runaround—as always. They've been giving me the runaround for the past couple of months."
When she informed the management company that a news crew would be stopping by, a cleaning unit was dispatched that same day, with Sapps finding her belongings placed in the hallway when she arrived on Thursday.
"Since I called Channel 12 News, they are trying to get on the ball with fixing the apartment," she said. "I don’t have faith in them because they promise you things, and they still don’t get done."
After News 12 reached out, property management company Fairstead stated that Sapp’s unit has "been fully restored and is available for her return at her convenience."
Sapp, however, says she is still waiting for the call that will allow her to go home.