Residents of an East Garfield Park apartment complex sat they are living in unsafe conditions, battling severe water leaks, mold and roaches.
Those residents are now calling on the Chicago Housing Authority to step up and help.
“I mop up water and kill roaches all day,” Jimmie Murray told NBC 5.
Murray has lived in the Harrison Courts Apartment complex for the past six years, but says the majority of the issues began three years ago.
“Look up under here it’s got mold all in it,” he said. “Nothing but mold.”
Murray’s apartment was filled with water. He says it soaked his original mattress and the management company gave him an air mattress instead, which he says has since popped due to sharp tiles coming up from water damage.
His ceiling appeared to be covered in mold as water continued to trickle out from the bathroom. A window didn’t shut despite subzero temperatures outside, and the apartment doesn’t have a working fire alarm or working stove.
“I’ve been putting in work order… but the only work order that’s been getting done is what I’ve been doing to try and make it livable for me and my dog,” he said.
What’s left of his belongings now hang from the ceiling, or sit in a waterproof bin.
Despite the unit’s condition Murray said he was served eviction papers for withholding rent.
“I would rather live on the train than in my apartment, or on the bus,” he said. “It hurts me to my heart. I would do anything to make things right, but please just get me and my dog up out of the water. That’s the only thing I want, to be dry.”
He’s not the only one at Harrison Courts that expressed concerns over living conditions. Resident Andrea Kingle has lived there her whole life.
“We’re living with roaches, we’re living in mold, we’re living with no heat sometimes, running toilets,” she said. “There’s people in the hallways that don’t live there, we have to walk through urine to get to the stairs.”
The property is owned by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and managed by WinnCompanies.
CHA told NBC 5 in a statement:
“We are committed to ensuring that residents live in safe, well-maintained homes, while also prioritizing long-term stability and affordability. Last year, we announced the active pursuit of the sale of Harrison Courts Apartments to an affordable housing owner with the resources necessary to invest in the significant capital improvements that the property needs. That process is progressing on schedule and expected to conclude this year; residents will not lose housing as a result.”
CHA says Harrison Courts is not classified as ‘public housing’ which restricts their ability to use federal public housing funds.
CHA also said the building passed HUD’s National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate inspection with a score of 83%.
“While inspections are an important benchmark, CHA recognizes that they do not capture every in-unit concern, which is why resident communication and on-site oversight remain critical,” a spokesperson said. “CHA leadership has visited the property as recently as this week and we remain in communication with residents about their needs.”
WinnCompanies told NBC 5 they are working to protect the health and safety of residents.
“We are working closely with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and residents to prioritize and address maintenance issues,” their statement said. “Residents should continue to report issues to property management immediately so that they can be investigated and addressed as quickly as possible.”
Neither CHA or WinnCompanies addressed Murray’s eviction notice directly.
Anabel Mendoza, who is running for the 7th District Congressional seat, has been working with residents at the complex alongside Reverend Robin Hood. They are calling on the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove barriers so CHA can address the issues.
“Affordable housing should not mean inhumane,” Mendoza said at a press conference.
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