Mold plagues residents of HUD-subsidized apartments

Published: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 6:01 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 6:05 p.m.

"My wall looked like it had vines," she said of the closet in her children's room at the back of her three-bedroom apartment. "That's how bad the mold and mildew was."

When it was really bad, she would cough and her eyes would water. Her cherry wood bedroom set was ruined by the mold and mildew, she told The Sun. She and her sons Timarion, 8, twins Timarius and Timothy, 6, and 5-year-old Timarkis had new shoes that were ruined, as was much of their clothing.

Lawrence was among several residents who spoke up about mold problems at the government-subsidized Horizon House Apartments, 1515 NW 10th St., which is managed by the Virginia-based company Community Housing Partners.

Eventually, Horizon House put up the people who lived in several affected apartments in hotels while the mold issues in their homes were to be remediated.

The complaints prompted a letter from Mayor Ed Braddy in late December to a regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development explaining that the City Commission has heard about the health and safety concerns that citizens with HUD vouchers have regarding housing deficiencies in their apartments, including serious maintenance problems leading to mold and mildew growth.

The mold was widespread in the Horizon House complex but many residents are afraid they could lose their apartments or vouchers if they were to complain to HUD directly, Braddy wrote.

The city asked HUD to inspect Horizon House to see if it is complying with federal rules. HUD spokeswoman Gloria Shanahan told The Sun via email that the agency has received the City Commission's letter and it is under review.

The residents, including Lawrence, have since returned to their apartments. So, too, has the mold and mildew.

The same old cycle'

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Mold plagues residents of HUD-subsidized apartments