Some progress has been made to address ongoing safety and hygiene complaints from residents at Sangamon Towers, 424 N. Fourth St., U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski said at a Jan. 26 press conference in the capital city.
Budzinski, who flipped Illinois’ 13th congressional district for Democrats just over two years ago, said Pacific Management, the company that owns and operates Sangamon Towers, began to staff a security guard around the clock last month, roughly one month after the congresswoman sent a letter to Pacific Management highlighting resident complaints and Illinois Times reporting. Additionally, residents now need to present an ID when entering the building.
Jeff Richards, Pacific Management CEO, and Tammy Cloe, property manager of Sangamon Towers, spoke with Budzinski and Service Employees International Union staff on Jan. 26, according to a press announcement. Budzinski addressed the media afterwards, although Richards and Cloe did not join her.
“Today was a really positive, I think, big step forward,” Budzinski said. “Pacific Management has made some really good commitments, firm commitments, especially around the security issues of the building.”
In November, Illinois Times reported that seniors had constant issues with unauthorized visitors, broken elevators, bedbugs and other problems that upset the daily lives of residents. The privately owned building receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide affordable housing for low-income, elderly and disabled residents.
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Sangamon Towers, which Budzinski noted was “originally started as senior independent, assisted living,” has more than 120 units, even after some apartments were damaged from a fire set by an arsonist last July.
Kayla Watson, an SEIU caregiver, told reporters housing issues including mold, unclean public spaces and general security concerns have been ongoing for the 12 years she has been working there. Watson said residents were hesitant to speak up about issues due to fear of eviction and then having to find another place to stay.
“They have nowhere else to go, so if they speak up, (they wonder), ‘Will they try to kick me out? Will they evict me? Where would I go?’ or then I get, ‘I told them, but nothing’s been done about it,’” Watson said.
In the two months since Budzinski sent a letter to Pacific Management, Watson said there have still been complaints from residents about elevators, unaddressed mold and residents allowing unauthorized visitors inside.
Budzinski said creating more secure, affordable housing is one way to address the system-wide issues facing the country.
“This is not an issue that is just here within Springfield,” she said. “We need more affordable housing. We also need affordable housing that is safe, secure and in good public health standing.”
