Mold, heat problems leave Beloit families homeless
To help
The emergency shelter set up for residents displaced from Countryside Village Apartments is in desperate need of volunteers, said Marc Perry, director of planning and development for Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties. To help, call Perry at (608) 289-8554.
Photo Gallery
Apartments evacuated
The Countryside Village apartments were condemned by the City of Beloit
Podcast Episode
A full hour of Open Mic: Beloit apartment evictions at Christmas; who's running Milwaukee schools; Whitewater National football champs.
BELOIT — Linda Brown doesn’t expect to have a merry Christmas.
Brown, her daughter and five grandchildren were forced to leave their apartment this week after the city of Beloit declared it uninhabitable.
She plans to stay with a friend while her daughter and grandchildren stay with family in Chicago.
“I don’t think they should’ve put us out until after Christmas,” she said. “I already don’t have the Christmas spirit, but damn. It’s bad for the kids.”
City officials said they had no choice but to vacate 32 occupied units at Countryside Village Apartments, 2101 Freeman Parkway, after problems with heat, carbon monoxide and mold in the units.
The city has been dealing with problems at the complex for three years, said Tom Clippert, director of housing services. The owner, Barry Chernowsky of Chicago, has refused to keep the buildings up to code, allowing families to stay in units with mold and broken heat systems, Clippert said.
Chernowsky gave families space heaters to use as their main sources of heat, raising the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire, Clippert said. He sent unlicensed maintenance workers to work on the heat and told families they could move into units the city already had declared uninhabitable, he said.
The situation reached a crisis in the last few days.
“It kind of came to a head now with the cold weather,” he said. “A lot of these boilers aren’t working.”
Officials hate to put the families out at Christmas, but they also don’t want the families living in danger, said Capt. Bill Tyler of the Beloit Police Department.
“If we woke up and found four kids had died of carbon monoxide poisoning, everybody would be saying, ‘What the hell? You knew about this,’” he said.
Chernowsky could not be reached for comment at his Chicago office. A man who answered at the office said Chernowsky was on vacation in Florida, then hung up.
Officials originally feared the crisis could be worse. The complex has 112 units and until recently held 50 families, but only 32 uninhabitable units were occupied.
Many of the families are poor, which is why they continued to live in apartments that had mold and no heat, Clippert said. Several of the families don’t speak English.
Officials estimated about 60 people might need emergency shelter, said Marc Perry, director of planning and development for Community Action. Local service agencies set up a shelter at Central Christian Church, 2460 Milwaukee Road, Beloit.
Those agencies know their work is just beginning. The ultimate goal is to find long-term housing for the families, said Teri Downing, a Beloit Housing Authority employee who was volunteering her time Tuesday.
“Most of (the residents) are aware of the issues,” she said. “They want to move out, (but) a lot of them have limited resources.”
Crisis shows need for emergency plan, officials say
At one point, Marc Perry held three cell phones Tuesday morning as he worked to get food, bedding and shelter for 32 displaced singles and families.
He and Brad Munger, Rock County Crisis Intervention supervisor, were leading operations from an idle Beloit transit bus outside Countryside Village Apartments, 2101 Freeman Parkway. They would end one call only to dial again as they contacted anyone who might be able to help.
“This is way too much,” said Perry, who was working on three hours of sleep.
Perry and Munger said the crisis in Beloit points to the need for a countywide emergency response plan for cases of large-scale homelessness.
“I don’t think this is going to be the last (incident),” Munger said. “I think this is the tip of the iceberg.”
Beloit officials recently declared 70 units at Countryside Village uninhabitable, displacing 16 families. Tom Clippert, city director of housing services, said the landlord allowed mold and lack of heat to become a danger to residents.
Perry estimated about 60 people could need shelter this week. Service agencies set up an emergency shelter at Central Christian Church, 2460 Milwaukee Road, Beloit.
This is the second time this year that local agencies prepared for a sudden increase in homelessness. Officials feared more than 100 people in Janesville, Edgerton and Milton would lose their homes in April because the buildings’ owner owed about $30,000 to Alliant Energy.
The owner worked out a payment plan, avoiding the power shutoff.
Munger and Perry think similar cases will crop up as owners and tenants alike struggle in the recession. They want local agencies to create an emergency plan that assigns a point person and helps everyone know his or her role in a housing crisis.
But every crisis is different, and it can be hard to create a plan that fits them all, said David Diestler, executive director of the South Central Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross. For example, the Red Cross takes the lead in providing shelter after natural disasters, but the case in Beloit fell under the city’s jurisdiction.
Still, he’s in favor of any emergency planning.
“You can never plan too much,” he said. “We’re always trying to plan different scenarios.”
Diestler joined Perry, Munger and many others Tuesday at Countryside Village. Later, volunteers moved to the Central Christian shelter to accommodate the incoming families.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Perry knew he was in for another long night.
“More than likely, I’m going to be sleeping at the shelter tonight,” he said.
Dec 27, 2009 at 11:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
um, I don't know how to back my statements up with any "proof"; however, I am familiar with a small program in Beloit where each client is receiving Section 8 housing vouchers. There have been landlords that somehow skirted around the Section 8 inspection by the City of Beloit Housing Authority employees and were getting their monthly rent on time (thanks to taxpayers), the clients were doing the best they could within the situation they were in; yet the homes were literally falling apart. The landlords homes were ideal: brand new on the river with beautiful landscaping and gorgeous vehicles and boats. Their rental properties were missing steps to go to the second floor of the living space. Granted, I'm not expecting folks to live in brand new homes that cannot contribute somehow to acquiring it; however, they shouldn't "get" to live like this due to landlord neglect. I don't know how this keeps happening (yes, in Beloit).
Dec 25, 2009 at 4:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
God bless these people and I am so proud of Central Christian Church in Beloit for continuing to raise the bar in leadership and being there for those in need. One of us isn't as good as all of us!
Dec 25, 2009 at 4:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
For accurate information about the health effects of mold, go to http://truthaboutmold.info.
Dec 24, 2009 at 4:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
Thank you, Janesvillean ... maybe people will quit harping on the "dirty bathroom" now.
Dec 24, 2009 at 2:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
The timing is what is under question. It seems a little suspect. These problems just didn't pop up overnight. They couldn't evict them back when it was warm out?
Dec 24, 2009 at 12:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
I really wish I had whatever you guys are drinking, cause your posts crack me up.
-
1. Didn't you ever go to a liquor store for boxes to move? In college maybe?
-
2. How many of you honestly think the city is considering condemning the building due to dirty bathrooms?
::forehead smack::
Dec 24, 2009 at 11:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
Speaking as a landlord, if you have a pipe break inside a wall you get drywall that will never again be dry. If you have mold in the drywall, and this applies even if it's the greenboard specifically for moist environments, the mold WILL eventually bleed through the grout. At that level of contamination the only cure is demolition of the mold-infused area. They would not have evacuated people if this were a couple of dirty bathrooms.
Dec 24, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
You guys crack me up ... I kept looking for somebody with a kid's doll and a 12-pack! (LOL!)
Dec 24, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
I like the picture of the guy with a dolly and a bunch of beer. Thats the holiday spirit!
Dec 24, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
Disgusting.
Who's to blame for all of this? The owner Barry
Chernowsky.
SarahB1,
it look's like Cynicaleye doesn't have that data to back up their claim.
643943,
I enjoyed your post.Well stated.
Dec 24, 2009 at 9:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
While I fully understand the landloards part in this lets get real. The tenents have a role in this too. Look how horrible that bathroom looked, now that's not the fault of the landloard. The mold, water and heat issue is very much on him but hygene is not. I'm not defending him by no means but let all those who are at fault take thier part of the blame.
Dec 24, 2009 at 8:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
frogger - Scrubbing Bubbles!!
Dec 24, 2009 at 7:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
The city has been dealing with problems at the complex for three years, said Tom Clippert, director of housing services. The owner, Barry Chernowsky of Chicago, has refused to keep the buildings up to code, allowing families to stay in units with mold and broken heat systems, Clippert said.
Dec 24, 2009 at 6:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
cynicaleye: Do you have any data to back up your statements regarding Beloit doing "nothing" on enforcing housing regulations/ordinances? I don't think it is fair to base an opinion on this apartment site alone. Also, I know Beloit has quite a few shootings but the number is nowhere near 365 a year.
Dec 24, 2009 at 4:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
The city of Beloit does NOTHING to landlords or property developers when there are problems. They ignore them for so long it ends up like this. They sit around and twiddle their thumbs and say what a great place Beloit is. Look at the river front, look at the Angel Museum, look at our downtown, look at the gateway development. Let's pat ourselves on the back. While shootings seem to be a daily happening and properties like this are allowed to crumble. Sure, the landlord should have addresses problems. But did he? No, he didn't care as long as he was getting his money.
Dec 24, 2009 at 4:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
say what you want, the city handled this poorly. And yes problems do exist, that bathroom was 90% tenant negligence.
Dec 24, 2009 at 4:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
Perhaps the outrage should be placed with the owners rather than the public officials. I believe other articles on this topic indicated that they were using space heaters as their primary source of heat, which can be dangerous if not monitored and used in every apartment that was without heat. I am glad to hear that everyone seems to have found accomodations.
Dec 24, 2009 at 3:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
I still don't understand why the city waited until a couple days before Christmas to kick these people out if they've been having issues for three years. The cold weather was cited as the reason, but it was much colder a month ago, so why not then? I didn't read that the people had any time to plan for this, and now the community has to pick up the pieces because of this decision. Did those space heaters use kerosene? I can understand the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning if they were older heaters, but electric heaters pose no threat like that. Besides, kerosene heaters are legal to use as space heaters, and are sold in most department and hardware stores. Kicking people out of their homes in the dead of winter is a very serious, life threatening thing to do, and the city is the one that did it. I would like to know why the city did what it did. Gazette, could you dig a little deeper please?
Dec 24, 2009 at 2:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
2manykids: Where does it state in the article that these tenants are in the United States illegally? There is one sentence that reports "several of the families don't speak English," but that is all it says. Did you know that "several" means two or three? This story refers to occupants of 32 units.
Dec 23, 2009 at 10:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
isn't it strange that once again the resources that we have given donations to to help out people are going to people that are here illegally that shouldn't be here in the first place? So once again a bad landlord is giving people who are here illegally a good place to live instead of sending them back to where they belong? I am sorry to sound insensitive but I am on unemployment and so are two of my children who have worked their butts off. We aren't getting any help from anyone. We would rather work but all the jobs are going to people who are living off us and sending their money to Mexico--check out the article on illegal farm workers that was in the gazette a few days ago.
Dec 23, 2009 at 9:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
I wasnt angry at the gazette..Im not angry at anyone, just annoyed.
And I think if they use those words the gazette can choose to not use them. Atleast Damn.
Dec 23, 2009 at 8:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
They quoted those people who said "damn" and "hell." The Gazette didn't say them! Get angry at the public officials if you're going to get angry with anyone in this situation!
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Wow that shower is disgusting.
And since when do we say damn and hell in a gazette article?
Low class
Dec 23, 2009 at 7:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
I wonder who manages these apartments. Many absentee landlords are known for ignoring complaints from renters and/or problems with properties.
Dec 23, 2009 at 5:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
After three years they decide to condemn the buildings without hardly any warning to the people living there that don't have the resources to move themselves? I guess I'm missing the point, because this sounds like a crisis brought on by the city, and they really could have done things differently.
Dec 23, 2009 at 4:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
swisschick- it seems we agree. I was writing at the same time and worried about being bashed for the nasty dirty bathroom comment. Comet is not that pricey! My mom told me to use elbow grease once. I went under the counter to find it. She said "what are you doing?" I said, "looking for the elbow grease!" Oops, haha, I was just young.
Dec 23, 2009 at 4:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
It isn't the job of the landlord to clean the bathroom! Look at the sink/toilet picture. I do understand there are problems and it isn't safe to be in there. There is no excuse for a toilet to look like that GROSS! there is also no excuse for the unsafe stuff to go on this long. Yes there will be mold in the shower if you NEVER clean it. The conditions may be very good for the mold to grow better which is unsafe. I can see all the leakage in the photos. Mold can grow in showers that have a safe environment to begin with. I am guessing the ventilation is nonexistent in the bathroom. To be legal you need a window which I have never understood this. You're not going to open it in the winter to vent. If you don't have a window you need a decent fan that vents to the outside NOT the attic.
They should make owner pay for them to be in a hotel. He should, and I believe has to, refund the rents if they cannot be there.
Dec 23, 2009 at 4:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
SwissChick, the scenario is probably that lack of heat caused pipes to freeze, leading to severe leakage inside the walls and high humidity levels year-round inside the living areas. That's my informed guess from looking at this basement photo.
http://www.gazettextra.com/photos/galler...
.
Tenant neglect would be visible in only one or two isolated apartments, not an entire building.
Dec 23, 2009 at 4:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
Actually, that bathroom tile picture looks like that is more of tenant neglect than a landlord issue. But I did see the mold, lack of heat, etc., on TV last night. Wow.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.