PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Residents at a West Philadelphia elderly housing development say they have been without hot water for nearly a month — just one of several problems they say plague the assisted living apartment complex.
Residents crowded into the lobby of Haddington Elderly Housing, located at 56th and Race streets, Wednesday morning to share their outrage at the Camden-based Michaels Organization, the company that manages their building.
“The building had this water issue going on three weeks and we’ve got no help,” said Alisha Robinson. “We call, we complain, we write letters.”
“And they don’t do nothing about nothing,” added Earl Dupree. “We’ve been having water problems for the past [few] weeks. No water pressure and barely any hot water.”
Robinson and Dupree are among the 125 residents who say building management needs to step up to fix these issues. Residents also complained of a lack of security and sanitation problems.
Longtime residents like Callie Rogers say the issues go against quality-of-life basic needs.
“This is a health issue for me because I suffer from arthritis very bad and I need the heat from the water, and it don’t get hot at all,” she said.
Dupree said he has also contacted city and state officials to no avail.
“No hot water, no pressure. Can’t wash, take a shower, a bath,” he said. “I’ve been talking and calling everyone but just get the run-around.”
KYW Newsradio reached out to The Michaels Organization, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Licenses and Inspections, but did not receive comment.
Last year, residents at Haddington Elderly Housing said building management surprised them with a series of rent hikes and threats of eviction. That matter has since been resolved.