On the heels of the No More Slumlords Campaign win at the Clay Arsenal Renaissance Apartments (CARA), CAC has successfully organized north end residents in two more campaign wins! Because of the power of organizing, more than 260 families now have the opportunity to move to safer, quality living conditions.
Barbour Gardens Apartments, located on Barbour Street in Hartford’s North End neighborhood, is an 84unit HUD-subsidized project-based housing complex. Residents complained about mold, chronic mice and pest infestations, and faulty plumbing that created severe water damage.
Despite the horrid conditions, Barbour Gardens, owned by Adar Hartford Realty, dubiously passed inspection with a score of 81 out of 100 in February 2018, only to fail the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspection in September 2018 with an abysmal 9 out of 100 points. CAC’s discovery and exposure of the duplicitous tactics owners and housing consultants used to pass failing properties sparked national attention. These tactics allow owners to keep receiving HUD’s money while creating life-threatening conditions for residents and their children.
Just down the street from Barbour Gardens is Infill Apartments, a 52unit complex owned by Eli Fish. Although he got nearly $1.5 million in subsidies in the last two years, the property failed inspection with a score of 27 out of 100 points. Infill too suffered from rats, mold, and roaches in addition to fire safety violations. CAC’s organizing efforts caught the attention of NBC Nightly News and was the focus of a three-month investigative report.
On Feb 1, Congressman John Larson and Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal wrote a letter to HUD Secretary, Dr. Benjamin Carson “with frustration and alarm regarding the Department’s response to decrepit housing conditions in Hartford, Connecticut.” They wrote, “Given the broad enforcement powers at the Department’s disposal, we find the failure to fully and promptly exercise those powers to address the deplorable conditions at the Infill Apartments and Barbour Gardens at best troubling and at worst inexcusable.”
On February 14, resident leaders held a public action at Urban Hope Refuge Church – pastored by Rev. AJ Johnson, CAC Organizer – to demand from HUD mobile vouchers for immediate relocation. The night before the action, HUD released a public statement granting relocation to the residents. Mayor Bronin praised CAC for empowering residents. “As a city we are grateful to the Christian Activities Council,” said Bronin, “for empowering, partnering with our residents so that they can be so effective in pushing HUD to do the right thing.”
A month later, Senators Murphy and Blumenthal personally toured both properties. Witnessing the conditions firsthand prompted Senator Blumenthal call out HUD for their complicity with conditions he said are “criminal, illicit, and unforgiveable.”
While we have had some significant wins, the issue of slumlords in Hartford’s North End is more complex than HUD’s lack of enforcement. The real question that we need to ask ourselves is why are the only options on the table ones that continue to segregate and quarantine poorer – primarily women and children of color – into poverty concentrated project-based housing? Despite everyone’s desire to live in safe neighborhoods with good schools, a pharmacy, a supermarket, and restaurants, racist housing practices force people who rely on housing subsidies to forego these basic amenities.
There is need for a coordinated approach from all levels of government and civic society to realize lasting justice in Greater Hartford. CAC is pleased to share its partnership with Open Communities Alliance to address some of the issues. Our joint work is being supported by a $220,000 Hartford Foundation for Public Giving collaborative grant.
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