As the mayor announces his public housing initiative, some New York City Housing Authority residents still struggle living in deplorable conditions. NY1's Susan Jhun filed the following report.

For close to two decades, Shukara Ausmore and her family have lived with walls crumbling down around them.

"The walls started puddling in," Ausmore says. "Water started coming through the ceilings."

Ausmore says the extensive leaks have caused paint peeling, cracking the walls throughout her apartment and even creating holes in some spots. The tenant at the Harlem River Houses says she's had to go to housing court three times just to force the New York City Housing Authority to address the situation with what she says is simply a band-aid.

"They chip off the old paint and they paint right over it. And give it a few more months, when it rains, the same thing," Ausmore says. "We also put in transfer forms to move out of here, and they refuse to move us out of here, and they want us to live in this condition that we're living in."

NY1 for You contacted NYCHA, and a spokeswoman said there is a major construction project underway at Harlem River Houses that includes brick façade repairs, roof replacement and apartment rehabilitation for the top-floor apartments that have been significantly damaged by roof leaks. She went on to say that while there is no visible presence of mold or mildew upon investigation of the apartment, there are significant damages caused by roof deficiencies. The spokeswoman said NYCHA is working to expedite Ausmore's transfer request while the roof is replaced and the apartment awaits scheduled repairs.

It's a move Ausmore waits for with bated breath.

NY1 for You will keep you updated.