Disabled Hoboken Resident Stuck in Hunt for Housing

Walking up to the third floor of his walk-up is increasingly becoming impossible for Hobokenite Frank Monte Magno. But, moving into an affordable building within the Mile Square has proven to be even harder.

Monte Magno, who works for the city as a clerk typist and was born and raised in Hoboken, was born without hips and got polio when he was seven years old. He now suffers from post-polio disorder and needs crutches in order to move around.

But Monte Magno, who works for the city, earns too much money to be able to live in one of Hoboken's disabled-friendly and low-income buildings, such as Columbian Towers. Another requirement to live in Columbian Towers is official proof of disability, that the government provides those who receive disability payments. But because Monte Magno has fought to overcome his disability and hold down a job, he does not receive disability payments from the federal government.  

As a child, Monte Magno attended the A. Harry Moore school in Jersey City, a school especially for disabled students.

To qualify for Columbian Towers, a resident can't make more than $25,000 a year. To be able to live in the Hoboken Housing Authority, you can't make more than $40,000.

Monte Magno's base salary is $39,817 annually according to a document provided by the city's Personnel Officer, Michael Korman. But, because of longevity, Monte Magno, who has worked for the City of Hoboken for 15 years, actually earns $43,311 a year, which is why the HHA rejected his application.

And at 60, Monte Magno is still too young to move into senior housing. 

"I'm more handicapped than most people who get handicapped parking spots in Hoboken," said Monte Magno. But now, Monte Magno said, he's getting too old to walk those steps every day. "If I don't have to, I don't go out."

But city officials say they have no choice but to reject Monte Magno's appeals for assistance. "One thing you can't mess around with is the threshold," said Executive Director of the Housing Authority Carmelo Garcia about the $40,000 maximum salary someone can earn to live in the HHA. Monte Magno's income is above that treshold, Garcia said.

For now, Monte Magno said, he will stay in his current apartment until he is old enough to move into senior housing. He currently has an application pending to live in an affordable housing complex, Church Towers, but said he has not yet heard back.