WWII vet fighting NYCHA for his home

handout Ralph Calinda, a 91-year-old resident of the Pomonok Houses, was honored for his service to the community. Calinda, a World War II veteran who has lived in the development for 61 years, said he is unhappy NYCHA is trying to move him out of his home now into a smaller unit.

Ralph Calinda saw his share of bullet holes during his combat experience in World War II, so he doesn’t need to see any more at home.

The spry 91-year-old is fighting a downsizing plan by the New York City Housing Authority that would force him out of his tidy apartment at the Pomonok Houses in Flushing.

The agency is trying to move elderly people who no longer need large apartments into smaller spaces, in order to accomodate families on its lengthy waitlist.

Calinda, however, was not interested in the switch.

“The place was terrible,” he said of the smaller unit he was shown. “Someone had shot it up.”

NYCHA needs to stop what they are doing

NYCHA officials have told City Council that the agency counted 11,400 households in “extremely underutilized” apartments, and said 6,500 seniors could face eviction if they don’t move into smaller units.

“Rightsizing helps us fulfill our mission to provide safe, decent, affordable housing to as many people as possible,” the agency said in a statement. “The New York City Housing Authority will continue to work with our stakeholders, including residents, elected officials and advocates, to ensure that this policy is sensitive and fair.”

Few would quibble with the intention, but NYCHA’s execution has been rife with problems, advocates say.

Officials have tried to uproot elderly and frail tenants and move them into other developments far from home.

handout The New York City Housing Authority has been accused of attempts to uproot the elderly in order to accomodate families on its lengthy waitlist.

Calinda, who has lived in his three-bedroom Pomonok apartment for 61 years, lost his wife a few years ago. The couple raised seven children in their home.

“I have no problem moving to a smaller place, but they should have come to me years ago when my kids left,” he said. “Why didn’t they tell me 20 years ago?”

Monica Corbett, the president of the Pomonok Residents Association, said it makes no sense to move Calinda, a beloved member of the community, when there are younger residents with oversized apartments.

“NYCHA needs to stop what they are doing,” she added. “They need to come down here and see what’s going on. They need to take stock of who really needs to move.”

lcolangelo@nydailynews.com

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