Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard launched a new city community app CMVNY Connect at City Hall on Thursday.

The app will allow residents to report housing code violations and submit forms for approval,  as well as get updates on city events, meeting schedules, parking regulations, garbage pickups and much more.

Apartment buildings in Mount Vernon are aging and with a shortage of affordable housing, advocates say landlords have no incentive to maintain buildings.

"They let the buildings fall apart in front of them because they know the tenants have nowhere to go,” says Dennis Hanratty, of Mount Vernon United Tenants. 

The app is part of larger project called Operation Better Living, which encourages residents to report vacant properties known as zombie houses. It also educates tenants on their rights.

"For those who feel they can continue to take advantage of a system that's been under-resourced, please know that going forward we are going to launch a campaign of pain and shame for bad-acting landlords and property owners,” said Patterson-Howard.

News 12 is told the city is also expanding its building code enforcement team from two officers to seven. There will now also be a bilingual officer on staff.

The city has hired a housing attorney to advocate for residents.

Officials say they plan to expand what kind of issues residents can report on the app in the near future.