Residents in Maize sub-division outraged over mold problems

May 31, 2008

KSN-TV - Wichita,KS*

By Oakley

May 30, 2008

MAIZE, Kansas, May 30, 2008 – Residents in a Maize sub-division say

they've been battling mold growing in their basements for two years.

Mennonite Housing was a project designed to help families, but now

those families say it's done the opposite.

Homeowners say they've developed allergies from the problems and

even tried to sell their homes, but no one will buy them.

Fowler checks her basement for mold, finding that all

three walls inside are contaminated.

" We built this house and it was supposed to be a dream for us and it

has been nothing but a nightmare since we moved in, " said Fowler.

The Fowlers built their home by themselves with the guidance of

Mennonite Housing and financial assistance from the USDA Rural

Development Program. But families that live in the Maize community

say guidance has been absent.

Residents at Carriage Crossing tell KSN News that 25 out of the 45

homes have mold growing in their basements; a serious problem that

Mennonite Housing claims they've addressed.

" Mennonite Housing had the houses examined and a recommendation to

add a vapor barrier in the basement was made for those families that

felt they had a concern, " said Andy Bias, president and CEO of

Mennonite Housing.

Mennonite Housing says that the families effused the free repair.

" We did refuse and the reason why we did refuse was at the time we

had a lawyer and he advised us that we could go with the remedy that

Mennonite Housing had offered or that we could pursue the lawsuit, "

said resident Tyra Ford.

It was a costly decision that families say they don't regret because

the vapor barrier wouldn't stop the mold.

" It's a little piece of foam that they would come and lay on the

basement wall and we just don't think that that's enough, " Ford said.

So, the families at Carriage Crossing say they're forced to pay for

repairs with money they simply do not have.

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