BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Barack Obama was president the last time Magdalena and Adam Lebron were able to sleep in their home in Coney Island. They blame delay after delay by the city's storm recovery program, Build It Back, in reconstructing their hurricane- ravaged home.
"We have not received any clear answers as to what is the real hold up," said Magdalena Lebron.
The Lebrons spent about $100,000 of their own money on repairs. But when the city promised to protect the home against any future flood waters and pick up the tab, the couple jumped at the offer.
They moved out more than three and a half months ago in June 2016 expecting to be back at the beginning of the next year. But the work did not start until then and according to the city, it's still not completed.
"We were expecting to be home about a year ago. And now its like, we don't even know when to expect to be back in," Lebron said.
The Lebrons' home is one of about 65 still under construction through the troubled program which has been plagued by extensive delays, runaway costs and complaints about shoddy work.
The couple says they've sent hundreds of emails and logged dozens of phone calls in an attempt to find out the status of their home. They even attempted a face-to-face meeting recently at a Build It Back field office, only to find it permanently closed.
When the work began, the Lebrons and their three kids relocated to a rental with the city picking up the tab. But now they are living with family members in the neighborhood.
Adding to their woes, robbers made off with valuable construction materials like copper piping at least three times. A contractor also recently placed a lien on the home after the city failed to pay $185,000 for reconstruction work already completed. That lien triggered a stop-work order by the city.
"It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I wouldn't do this again. I would never do this again," said Adam Lebron.
A new contractor has been hired, but the Lebrons say there's been no work at the home in weeks. NY1 asked, but the city has failed to provide any explnation for the delays or say when inspections needed to allow the couple and their children to move back will be scheduled.