Lucy NeedhamVicki Newman

Federal prosecutors and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that they had reached a new consent agreement that will install a federal monitor over the long-troubled New York City Housing Authority. The agreement will release $1.2 billion in city funds and at least $550 million in state funds to correct violations of health and safety standards that have harmed many low-income residents.

This was the worst winter for Ruth Britt. Britt, a resident of the Patterson Houses in the Bronx, went without heat and hot water for days during the widespread system outages that plagued New York City Housing Authority developments throughout the city. Britt, who is on a fixed income, had to buy a space heater and rely on her stove to keep from shivering. The added expenses strained her pocketbook and she had to forgo food and other vital items from the grocery store to stay within her budget.

This was the worst winter for Ruth Britt. Britt, a resident of the Patterson Houses in the Bronx, went without heat and hot water for days during the widespread system outages that plagued New York City Housing Authority developments throughout the city. Britt, who is on a fixed income, had to buy a space heater and rely on her stove to keep from shivering. The added expenses strained her pocketbook and she had to forgo food and other vital items from the grocery store to stay within her budget.