Seniors upset over housing

[Guest guest]

Seniors upset over housing

Say concerns at Yorkshire Commons ignored

York Weekly - Portsmouth,NH*

By deborah mcdermott

dmcdermott@...

August 14, 2008

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20080814/NEWS/808140411/-1/NEWS01 & sfad=1

YORK, Maine — It is a perfect place to live, and a perfectly

unappealing place to live.

This contradiction in terms was evident Wednesday morning, when

residents of the elderly housing complex Yorkshire Commons met with

the York Housing Authority board of directors. The meeting was

called after several residents had complained of problems they said

the management has not sufficiently addressed.

Many people outlined a litany of concerns, most notably longstanding

problems with mold that require constant vigilance and that have

been particularly noticeable during this wet, humid summer.

Mostly first-floor residents, they said they found mold on their

carpets, under the cupboards, on the walls, under the toilets and by

the windows. If a room doesn't have any detectable mold, several

said, there is still a musty smell in the rooms.

A dehumidifier, they said, is a must, but one woman said she

couldn't afford to buy one this summer — " maybe next, " she said.

" My kids come into the apartment and they say it's damp smelling, "

said Phyllis Hames. " It's a little better in the winter when the

heat's on, but it's all the time. "

" I have to keep a constant check on mold, " said Ginny Littlefield,

bleaching and using disinfectants on a regular basis. " I talked with

(e, the director of the YHA) several times, and she

insisted there was no mold. "

e was subject to her share of complaints. One woman said she

has been asking for new kitchen and bathroom floors for two years,

to no avail. Resident Woodward, whose letter in the Herald's

sister publication, The York Weekly, was the catalyst for the board

to meet with residents, said she has rarely found satisfaction with

e.

Board member Jud Knox asked her if she had a problem bringing her

concerns to staff, and she said, " Yes, at times they look at me like

I don't know what I'm talking about. At times, they have not been

responsive. "

But not everyone in the room was unhappy. Board chairman Jim

Gambrill asked each resident to speak individually about their

issues, and a number said they had none.

Audrey Gottlieb was representative.

" I'm happy. My experience has been nothing but good. The office

always responds when I call, " she said. " My experience has been

stellar, really. "

" I'm happy, too, " said Apgar.

When one resident asked for quarterly meetings with the board,

e reminded the residents that they could have regular input if

they would vote to put one of their own on the board of directors.

It has been two years, she said, since there's been a member from

Yorkshire Commons.

" Then this thing wouldn't happen, " she said.

One woman said she felt when she was on the board she was ignored,

but board members assured her that there are new members now and

that's no longer the case.

Resident Eugenia Benner sounded a cautionary note nonetheless.

" A lot of people are feeling there's so many things here that aren't

right, " she said. " I hope you will listen to what we've said. There

are issues that need to be taken seriously. "