JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development continued to get an earful Tuesday from fed up residents of the Eureka Gardens apartment complex.
In addition to frustrations about mold, faulty pipes and foul odors at the federally subsidized 400-unit housing complex, residents voiced their concerns about lead poisoning.
One mother, who said her 4-year-old daughter is suffering from lead poisoning, blamed the conditions at Eureka Gardens for putting her little girl in an emergency room with high fevers and wheezing.
“It really, really hurts,” Alexis Silas said. “I care about my kids so much. I didn't even go to work today because I felt like I had to be here (for the meeting). I have to take my daughter to the emergency room. I have to get everything handled with my baby so she's not sick. I don't want to lose my child due to anything.”
Residents met with five HUD officials for the second day in a row Tuesday at the Eureka Gardens Community Center.
Following that meeting, the HUD officials had a closed-door meeting with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, the fire chief and City Council members at City Hall.
It signaled the end of a long day for HUD regional director Ed Jennings, who’s being accused of not holding the complex owner's feet to the fire.
“We’re going to have some renewed conversation, so we’re updating each other every couple of weeks or so to know what’s going on on both sides,” Jennings said.
They discussed legal options and said they want a local HUD official in Jacksonville to oversee the problems at the complex.
HUD officials gave residents a 1-800 number for a contractor in Tampa who is responsible for responding to their concerns, and the residents expressed frustration at not having a local contact for their concerns.
"Was anything accomplished today? No, not at all. They're back here saying the same thing, empty promises, and nothing is going to get done,” resident Takisha Gibson said.
Rubio wants revamped HUD inspection process
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, has requested that HUD review its inspection process in light of the troubles at Eureka Gardens.
Rubio cited the initial inspection score of 85 given to Eureka Gardens in July 2015. That score was later vacated after a city code enforcement raid in October, sparked by I-TEAM reports of deplorable living conditions at the complex.
“Had it not been for the residents calling attention to their dire situation, the facility would not have been reviewed again for another two years,” Rubio wrote.
READ: Rubio letter to HUD secretary on inspection process
The most recent HUD inspection score for the complex was a 62c. A passing score is 60. Despite the low score, HUD's protocol allowed the renewal of GMF's $6 million contract to run Eureka Gardens.
“In doing so, HUD has knowingly certified a substandard facility because of a faulty inspection process,” Rubio wrote. “It is appalling that American taxpayer dollars have been wastefully spent over the years to fund a facility that has repeatedly put hundreds of people and their families at risk.”
Rubio applauded the residents of Eureka Gardens for standing up together to protect their vulnerable neighbors.
“This community has demonstrated great strength by collectively voicing their concerns and showing resiliency in the face of bureaucratic indifference and property mismanagement,” Rubio wrote. “It is time they are given the respect and quality of life they so deserve after waiting far too long for critical improvements to be made at Eureka Gardens.”
Rubio requested a prompt response to how HUD plans to reinspect the complex, what the department plans to do to reform its inspection process and whether HUD would explore expanding the role of state and local partners in monitoring HUD-certified facilities.
HUD: Mold problems persist
At least 74 units at Eureka Gardens have not yet been certified as mold-free, HUD officials said Monday.
Residents yelled and cried during Monday's meeting with HUD officials from Jacksonville and Atlanta. More than a dozen residents were at the meeting, wanting to know why HUD renewed its contract last month with Global Ministries Foundation, which owns the complex.
They also wanted to know why it is taking so long to clean up mold at the complex.
“We're pretty feisty because we're just upset for living like this, living in a deplorable state,” resident Mona Lisa Arnold said. “We just need some help. Help from the city. Help from the mayor. Help from everybody.”
According to a mold inspection report, testing done in November and December revealed temperature and relative humidity in the units were generally above acceptable ranges.
Water damage was noted below windows and behind toilets, window AC units were dirty and lacking maintenance, and there was elevated moisture in drywall around windows, according to the report.
In 248 units, there was also an elevated presence of three types of mold spores: penicillium/aspergillus, stachybotrys chaetomium, and cladosporium. Eighty percent of the units showed past drywall repairs, and 62 units had visible mold, according to the report.
READ: HUD Air Quality Inspection Report
Mold exposure, particularly for those sensitive to it, can cause nasal congestion, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation. Severe reactions can include fever and shortness of breath.
Councilmen crash HUD meeting
Jacksonville City Councilmen Garrett Dennis and Tommy Hazouri, who have been vocal in their criticism of GMF and its founder, the Rev. Richard Hamlet, learned of Monday's HUD meeting with residents through I-TEAM tweets and showed up to talk to tenants themselves.
After arriving, Dennis thanked the HUD representatives for coming but expressed his concerns about being left out of the conversation.
"I'm disappointed you didn't tell me about the meeting, if we are supposed to be a team and working together,” Dennis said.
HUD representatives admitted they should have notified city leaders about the meeting and promised more transparency with the city.
“It's hard to be encouraged until I see some real action,” Hazouri said. “When I see the mold removed; when I see some of the repairs being done at a quicker pace than they are doing.”
Hazouri said he came to the meeting to represent the interests of Eureka Gardens and Washington Heights residents. Both complexes are owned by GMF. He said it's a citywide problem.
"If I had my way, they (GMF) would get the hell out of Jacksonville," Hazouri said. “I wish we could just go out there with a hammer and nails and take care of everything, but we can't. They can't move anywhere. They're threatening people. Nobody knows about it, but it's the contractors or whomever, and that's kind of a shame, because they're in tears. Their children are in tears. They've been to the doctors over and over again. These things shouldn't exist in Jacksonville, Florida, or any city.”
Arnold said she appreciated the councilmen showing up to the meeting.
“Coming to stand up for us, that's right,” Arnold said. “Garrett Dennis was out here when the gas line blew up. He was out here all night long with us. Him and Mr. Hazouri are coming to help us. Thank the Lord for them.”
Dennis challenged HUD officials Monday to stay a week at Eureka Gardens with him. It's a challenge he told the I-TEAM he will honor.
“It's one thing to sit behind a desk in the ivory towers and just delegate and just talk about what's going on, but (it's another) to actually be on the front lines to see,” Dennis said.
'We need to hear how we're doing'
The HUD representatives said Monday that they are committed to the residents and ensuring the cleanup continues at the complex, which barely passed its last HUD inspection with a score of 62c. A passing score is 60.
The representatives told residents that if drywall or paint are used to cover up mold, residents should let HUD know immediately, because GMF could be in trouble.
“This is my third time visiting the property in about 4½ months, and I will be back again,” HUD official Ed Jennings said. “We need to hear how we're doing. We need to hear how the owner's doing. We need to hear their commentary on the process, and that's what we're here for.”
Jennings said Eureka Gardens still has a ways to go, and he said HUD will continue to hold meetings to help give tenants a voice.
"When people are upset and they are living in conditions that they believe are not appropriate, they get to voice that, and that's what they should do. That's what I'm here for and that's what my team is here for," Jennings said.
The best way for tenants to contact Jennings is by calling his office at 678-732-2009 or emailing him at ed.jennings@hud.gov.