Mold forces family from Precious Street home

April 12, 2007

San Express - San ,TX,

Silva

KENS 5 Eyewitness News

ENS.12862bea.html

After seven years of living on Precious Street, the Olivares family

is getting temporary relief.

Their home is part of the San Housing Authority's Mirasol

development. Homeowners there say their houses were built with low-

quality materials by poorly-skilled craftsmen.

The Olivares family had to move out fast Wednesday because their

home is infested with toxic mold. In order for the remediation

process to begin, the family has to leave. Until the cleanup is

finished, the family will stay at a local hotel.

" I have to get trash bags, only certain clothes. What happens to my

personal things? My belongings? " Olivares said.

The entire home, and everything in it, must be cleaned before the

family can return.

" I have bronchitis, you get this from certain types of mold, "

Olivares said.

The mold, she said, was caused by water from leaking pipes.

Contractors will work to repair the damaged sheetrock and flooring.

" It's not fair what they're doing to me. They've known about it for

five years, that these pipes occur. They let me live here for seven

years knowing what's in here, " Olivares said.

Although SAHA is paying for the hotel, Olivares said, when the work

is done, they don't really want to come back.

" I want my money back. I want out of here. I don't want to come

back. I know what they're going to do here in this house. I don't

want it, " she said.

If Olivares chooses not to return, she can have a Section 8 voucher

for a private home rental, move into a public housing unit or she

can lease-to-buy a different home. If she chooses the last option,

all the money she's paid in her current lease-to-buy home will be

lost.

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