Resident leaders continue to make progress organizing for decent, safe, and sanitary living conditions in their apartments owned by slumlord Emmanuel Ku. Ku receives $1.6 million a year from the federal government and enjoys a $266,000 a year tax break from the City of Hartford in exchange for providing quality housing. However, residents continue to live in rat, mice, and mold infested apartments.

CAC and resident leaders recently learned that Ku’s Hartford business operations failed an official management review conducted by the federal government. This demonstrates that he is not operating or maintaining the apartments in a manner acceptable to HUD. Due to HUD’s own bureaucratic policies, Ku will have months to rectify these issues leaving residents trapped in horrible living conditions with no other option but to keep organizing.

Because of their organizing efforts thus far, residents have won significant commitments from HUD and the City to inspect and monitor all aspects of Ku’s properties. The City, for example, is inspecting over 120 of Ku’s 150 units to see if he is in compliance with his tax abatement. Inspectors are documenting many code violations that management will hopefully rectify. HUD, in addition to the City’s efforts, has given Ku until March 31, 2018 to fix 2,300 repairs and violations. HUD inspectors will then evaluate all repairs before deciding what the next steps are in bringing Ku into compliance.

Ku has hired a new management company, Triumph, that appears to have a more reputable reputation and promises to make things right. However, they can only make right what Ku is willing to pay for. Given Ku’s history with other properties, we unfortunately anticipate ongoing issues until he is no longer the owner. In the interim, the City and HUD are taking meaningful steps to document all of the conditions in Ku’s apartments.

Resident leaders and CAC continue to work with Congressman Larson to investigate why Ku was allowed to obtain over 25% of Hartford’s three and four bedroom subsidized units when HUD already knew of his reputation as a notorious slumlord in other states. CAC is committed to standing with the residents until they achieve justice.

Latest media coverage

“Issues Continue In Debate Over Subsidized North End Apartments” in Hartford Courant

“Hartford’s Christian Activities Council Works Side by Side with Residents for Housing Justice” in Connecticut Magazine

Interview with Stan Simpson, Stan Simpson Show on Fox61