(New York Times) — The Bloomberg administration is grappling with yet another embarrassing technology malfunction. This time, the glitch is plaguing the agency charged with providing shelter to poor New Yorkers.
The agency, the New York City Housing Authority, is struggling to install a $36 million computer system intended to process information related to thousands of New Yorkers who hold federal housing vouchers. As a result, some expecting to move into apartments with the help of the housing authority are now in limbo, while others seeking to reduce their share of housing payments are wondering how they will make rent.
The difficulties have been continuing for several weeks and have forced housing officials to fill out some forms by hand, rather than by computer. Computer consultants and city officials have been working nights and weekends trying to fix the problems, accruing an undetermined amount of overtime. And the housing agency may be late in writing its monthly rent checks to landlords who lease apartments to New Yorkers with Section 8 vouchers.
