Homes is where the hassles are

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http://www.freep.com/news/locway/sen16_20021016.htm

SENIOR-CITIZEN COMPLEX: HOME IS WHERE THE HASSLES ARE

Detroit City Council hears residents' tales of roaches and mold

October 16, 2002

BY ERIK LORDS

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Perralene Madison, 62, says she never had to live with roaches, until now.

Myldred Wray, another senior citizen, says she never lived with black mold

growing on her walls, until now.

Madison and Wray were among a group of residents who appeared before the

Detroit City Council on Tuesday to voice concerns about the city Housing

Commission's lack of maintenance and repairs at the Sheridan One

senior-citizen complex on East Jefferson.

The residents said they have only one cleaning person for the 13-story

building, which has about 200 units. They also said there are too few

maintenance workers for the repairs needed. Intercoms are defective, and

there are roof leaks, they said.

The result, they said: Their homes are unsafe and unhealthy.

" We've got roaches coming through the building now because of the filth we

are living in, " Madison told council members. " The elevators aren't working

properly, and somebody gets stuck in them just about every day. "

Gwen Hawkins, president of the resident council at Sheridan One, said: " In

the lobby there are leaks, and they usually just put garbage cans out there

catching the water. It's tile on those floors, and people could slip and

fall. "

Duane , general manager of housing operations with the Housing

Commission, said, " We have four maintenance men. . . . I don't know why they

are saying there is only one. "

, who insisted the Housing Commission has done right by the residents,

said he has not seen mold or roaches in the units, and exterminators are

scheduled to visit every 90 days. They will visit on a resident's request

within 24 hours, he said.

" We always encourage the residents to seek redress for their issues

internally first. Sometimes, the residents get overzealous and circumvent

us. But it's not like we are sitting over here ignoring residents, "

said. " We are diligently responding to their requests for assistance. "

At least some residents don't think so.

Wray wrote a poem about the troubles at the complex and read it to the

council: " The cheerleaders are performing. The game has just begun. I've

handed you the bat, now hit that ball and run. "

Council members agreed to tour the complex in the next month and promised to

take action.

Madison, who has lived in Sheridan One for three years, said residents have

taken complaints to the council in the past and have had good results.

" We have very few people to turn to but City Council, " Madison said. " They

have been very helpful in the past. I know they will help us this time. "

Contact ERIK LORDS at 313-222-6513.