Jackson Free Press

Residents at the Golden Key Apartments, located on Albermarle Road, have visited Jackson City Council meetings several times over the course of the last few months to make complaints about what they call the Jackson Housing Authority's neglect of residents.

The Jackson Housing Authority, which is a branch of the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority, works under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Housing Authority is responsible for administering federal housing programs as well as building and managing properties.

Several residents are adamant that their living conditions at Golden Key, a HUD facility for the elderly and disabled, are unsuitable and a danger to their health.

Annie L. Figures, the resident tenant council president, has lived in the apartment for 12 years. She explained that she has been experiencing issues with JHA since 2008 when she filed for a report of Golden Key's funding, which she says she still has not received. However, she explained that she is most upset about the fact that the apartment's management, who she has filed complaints with before, seemingly ignore both residents' needs and the building's plumbing issues.

Figures said that the common room and several apartments in Building C are having leakage issues, which is causing flooding on the floors and mildew to grow behind the walls. During her interview, Figures showed photographs that revealed a substance that looked like mildew growing around vents. The walls, where Figures says much of the mildew has been growing, have since been painted over, which she says is the only effort JHA has done to remedy the problem.

"When they open up a can of worms, they close it right back up," Figures said.

These issues affect apartments in all three of the buildings on the site, she said, adding that many residents are fearful to speak up about the problems.

"All three buildings are having these issues. You don't hear the residents talking about them because the residents in A and B—they are actually afraid and intimidated. ...They're afraid that they'll lose their apartments," she said.

Figures and another resident, Tony Parker, who has a pacemaker in his heart, believe that the conditions have begun to affect their health. Figures said that when she took a filter from one of the vents to her doctor, the doctor said that the dirt and dust in the filter was enough to make anyone sick. Parker has lived in the apartment for 12 years but has had to begin taking oxygen treatments just over the last several months. He said that he believes that his condition has worsened because of mildew in his own apartment.

Mia Champion, a disabled resident, said that she takes it upon herself to check on many of the residents regularly because she knows that management will fail to do so.

However, Sheila Jackson, executive director of JHA, disagrees with the complaints. She explained that after Figures made her initial complaints, an inspection revealed that much of Figures' claims were "not accurate" and that the apartments do not have an ongoing issue with mold or mildew.

Jackson said although the Golden Key apartments are fairly old, built in 1972, the apartments undergo a yearly evaluation that requires every apartment unit to be inspected. She also said that there is a treatment process in place for the occurrence of mold and mildew; however, she is adamant that the apartments do not have a huge problem with these conditions.

"I can't tell you there are never leaks and there are never repairs to the units," Jackson said. "Inspections are actually going on this week. ... We have a process to treat and take care of any mildew and mold. There is painting. There is a process, but it's not to cover or hide the mold. ... But we don't have a lot of mold or things of that nature. We just don't. We do have leaks, but as soon as we see those things, we address them."

Although Jackson insists that the apartments are not as bad off as some of the residents make it seem, City Council members seem to have doubts.

At a recent meeting, Ward 3 Councilwoman LaRita Cooper Stokes said she has had difficulty getting in touch with JHA to discuss Golden Key, which is located in her ward.

Community Improvement, a division of the city, recently completed a report on the situation. Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell said that the City's report revealed a list of approximately 20 deficiencies, "from everything from running water to electricity being cut off to mold to deplorable conditions, and there were a bunch of pictures."

Figures added that Theo Davis, the apartment's manager, told her last week that the mildew and repairs are scheduled to be completed within the next 30 days.