Rep. Allen Calls for HUD to Investigate Living Conditions at Bon Air Apartments
Washington,
April 13, 2022
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Michael A. Plummer
Washington - Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) sent a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge to request an investigation into the management and living conditions of the Bon Air apartment complex on Walton Way in Augusta.
The request comes after inspectors with the Richmond County Fire Department recently found 19 separate code violations during a partial inspection last month.
As a participant in the federal Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance program, the Bon Air is required to meet certain standards under HUD to ensure residents' health and safety.
In the letter, Congressman Allen echoed the concerns of Bon Air residents, who cite "growing mold, [an] infestation of roaches and rats, stained carpets, the smell of urine in the stairways and a lack of security" as evidence of mismanagement by Redwood Housing Partners, who purchased the Bon Air in 2020.
Congressman Allen also cited a 2016 WRDW-TV investigative report which found elderly and disabled residents sitting in 90-degree apartments due to broken air conditioning, lamenting there was "no concerted effort to hold management accountable" in the aftermath of the report.
The letter calls for a formal investigation into the "unlivable conditions" at the Bon Air, requesting Secretary Fudge turn over any documents Redwood Housing Partners has provided HUD with respect to planned renovations. Congressman Allen also urged HUD to "meet with [his] office, community leaders, and the local housing authority to work toward an expedited resolution to this issue."
On the letter, Congressman Allen made the following statement:
"Those in need of subsidized housing should not have to put their incomes toward unlivable apartments, just as taxpayers should not be funneling rent subsidies into a building that fails to provide a safe roof over the heads of its tenants. It's time for all parties involved in providing safe, affordable housing to address this critical matter."
You can read the full letter to Secretary Fudge here.
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