The NYCHA Journal

The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

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I Am NextGeneration NYCHA: Denise Torres

LaToya

Meet Denise Torres: Technical Resource Advisor, Maintenance, Repair & Skilled Trades responsible for Healthy Homes (a program with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene), Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

What do you do as a Technical Resource Advisor?

I’m the first Technical Resource Advisor in the Housing Authority, so I’m honored to have this position. I’ve worked for the Housing Authority for 29 years in several other positions. I was the first woman supervisor of exterminators in history.

We maintain all the PSAs throughout the five boroughs, we address all the IPM asthma referral jobs, we also do any emergency that the director requests, and we try to assist developments when they are overwhelmed with a situation and don’t have the time or the manpower.

What happens when you get a call through the IPM program?

What I initially do is go out with the Department of Health for an initial inspection. If there’s mold in the bathroom or standing water or plaster or painting that needs to be done, I’m writing that down. If the cabinets are roach infested, I will put down on the list to remove the cabinets. I send an email to all the skilled trades involved. We apply gel throughout the apartment, including in bathrooms, closets, and bedrooms. We use the HEPA vacuum to remove all the live and dead roaches and use glue traps as monitors. Within two weeks we try to go back and follow-up and see what kind of situation we have now. I continue to reach out to the tenants, let them know that in the beginning it seems a little rough but give us the opportunity and you’ll see the difference. We’ve done a lot of good work and I’m proud of our team.

What is the best thing about your job?

I’ve had so many good turnarounds where people said, “Denise, without you I don’t know where I would be. Thank you for the work you’re doing.” I don’t want the tenants to feel ashamed or embarrassed because we’re here to serve the people, the public. And when you join this agency, if you have a great heart this is where it’s supposed to go.