Surviving a slumlord
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Slumlord: A landlord who receives unusually large profits from substandard, poorly maintained properties.
Hello, my name is Carmen Barnes. I'm a mother seeking help for her son. Recently my son lost everything due to how his apartment complex has treated and continues to treat him. He has complained with no result for YEARS verbally, via email, and by certified mail. There are laws for people who treat people like this. My son is a man who asks for nothing. He has created a business self-taught to provide for his family. His partner is a prep cook serving the community in NW, Washington DC. They, along with their three children, ages 3, 8, and 11, have lived in terrible conditions with the deterioration of their apartment to an overload of mold surrounding their HVAC systems. They have proven the fact that it is mold in their house. The new and past property companies have neglected them to a point where it was terminal for the family pet. In Maryland, there aren't many laws on mold. With the company knowing this, I can confidently say they took advantage of that. My son did not know how to complain to the proper authorities. He was taken advantage of for not being fully aware of the laws. He never reached out to anyone because he was confident they would do their jobs and fix the issues that they were aware of. His apartment has had an infestation of mice since the first week they moved in(2019). They've had problems inside their house, such as their ceiling caving in, exposed stove, no smoke detectors, leaks over their toilet, and water-related holes throughout their home. All of these things above have collectively taken their toll on his family. His family dog had to be euthanized, as recommended by the vet. She developed a disease called leptospirosis. That disease is infectious and can be in his family and his system. These issues at hand could have been avoided. Because of the proven mold and this disease, he and his family have had to leave his home immediately. Clothes, food, electronics, and even his equipment for his business have been left in the apartment. They are still charging him. He has paid over $1,000 to prove to his complex that he is truthful when saying he has mold. He has updated the property managers on the situation. He has also estimated the cost of cleaning and replacing things in his home, including his equipment. It is way out of his means. He has to replace his equipment before he can work again. His insurance will not take care of or help him with the problem. They sent him letters stating why. Due to his kid's health problems, he has to get them tested for what may be in their body, from mold and bacteria to the infectious leptospirosis in his dog's system. His health insurance does not cover these types of testing, which are not standard tests to ask for. These tests are roughly $1900 per person. Test no kid should have to do with one of them being a stool test (1 of 3). Everyone in his family needs this test, but he is fighting for his kids to get tested immediately. He has to do this for his kids for potential futuristic issues. His complex will not guarantee to reimburse him for the displacement. They won't even fix the problem, and he recently paid a big chunk of his rent, $27,300 to be exact. He has been living in hotels until further notice. He does not know what next week brings. They left their home on July 17, 2022. He has to start from scratch. He can not cross contaminate what's in his home with the next person. Everything in there can be contaminated. We are now aware and have taken the proper steps to get this information into the appropriate authority's hands, but it is a timely process. Anything helps! from $1-$1000 or even details on how or who to complain to correctly. Thank you for reading this.
List of what he needs:
1. Most importantly, they need help with medical expenses. All five need testing, but if we can get the kids tested first, we will likely assume the parent's test results will be the same. It takes 4-5 weeks for those test results to come back
2. Food. There isn't much room for groceries in their living spaces food will be stored at my home. Their food stamps won't return until the 10th of next month, and they just went shopping days before the displacement.
3. Transportation. He bought a car for himself and his partner that they are trying to get back on the road
4. Support for a new home and a cleaner environment for his kids inside and out.
5. Support for his equipment so he can continue to work again
6. New underclothing and essential clothing for him, his partner, and his kids
7. Hygiene products for everyone
8. New furniture, mostly bedding for everyone
9. Support with babysitter cost
10. Hotel fees until further notice
For Pics and Videos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KWgMEsotrLPWyY896
Vet documentation about Leptospirosis: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fYKyfqSpQYhrCmYG9
Proof of mold: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3umbiVirxVignTrR9
Insurance Response: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DiUdbDEtuXingWWm8
Estimate to clean and replace: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z3VEy1vU2CfrmbmVA
Hello, my name is Carmen Barnes. I'm a mother seeking help for her son. Recently my son lost everything due to how his apartment complex has treated and continues to treat him. He has complained with no result for YEARS verbally, via email, and by certified mail. There are laws for people who treat people like this. My son is a man who asks for nothing. He has created a business self-taught to provide for his family. His partner is a prep cook serving the community in NW, Washington DC. They, along with their three children, ages 3, 8, and 11, have lived in terrible conditions with the deterioration of their apartment to an overload of mold surrounding their HVAC systems. They have proven the fact that it is mold in their house. The new and past property companies have neglected them to a point where it was terminal for the family pet. In Maryland, there aren't many laws on mold. With the company knowing this, I can confidently say they took advantage of that. My son did not know how to complain to the proper authorities. He was taken advantage of for not being fully aware of the laws. He never reached out to anyone because he was confident they would do their jobs and fix the issues that they were aware of. His apartment has had an infestation of mice since the first week they moved in(2019). They've had problems inside their house, such as their ceiling caving in, exposed stove, no smoke detectors, leaks over their toilet, and water-related holes throughout their home. All of these things above have collectively taken their toll on his family. His family dog had to be euthanized, as recommended by the vet. She developed a disease called leptospirosis. That disease is infectious and can be in his family and his system. These issues at hand could have been avoided. Because of the proven mold and this disease, he and his family have had to leave his home immediately. Clothes, food, electronics, and even his equipment for his business have been left in the apartment. They are still charging him. He has paid over $1,000 to prove to his complex that he is truthful when saying he has mold. He has updated the property managers on the situation. He has also estimated the cost of cleaning and replacing things in his home, including his equipment. It is way out of his means. He has to replace his equipment before he can work again. His insurance will not take care of or help him with the problem. They sent him letters stating why. Due to his kid's health problems, he has to get them tested for what may be in their body, from mold and bacteria to the infectious leptospirosis in his dog's system. His health insurance does not cover these types of testing, which are not standard tests to ask for. These tests are roughly $1900 per person. Test no kid should have to do with one of them being a stool test (1 of 3). Everyone in his family needs this test, but he is fighting for his kids to get tested immediately. He has to do this for his kids for potential futuristic issues. His complex will not guarantee to reimburse him for the displacement. They won't even fix the problem, and he recently paid a big chunk of his rent, $27,300 to be exact. He has been living in hotels until further notice. He does not know what next week brings. They left their home on July 17, 2022. He has to start from scratch. He can not cross contaminate what's in his home with the next person. Everything in there can be contaminated. We are now aware and have taken the proper steps to get this information into the appropriate authority's hands, but it is a timely process. Anything helps! from $1-$1000 or even details on how or who to complain to correctly. Thank you for reading this.
List of what he needs:
1. Most importantly, they need help with medical expenses. All five need testing, but if we can get the kids tested first, we will likely assume the parent's test results will be the same. It takes 4-5 weeks for those test results to come back
2. Food. There isn't much room for groceries in their living spaces food will be stored at my home. Their food stamps won't return until the 10th of next month, and they just went shopping days before the displacement.
3. Transportation. He bought a car for himself and his partner that they are trying to get back on the road
4. Support for a new home and a cleaner environment for his kids inside and out.
5. Support for his equipment so he can continue to work again
6. New underclothing and essential clothing for him, his partner, and his kids
7. Hygiene products for everyone
8. New furniture, mostly bedding for everyone
9. Support with babysitter cost
10. Hotel fees until further notice
For Pics and Videos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KWgMEsotrLPWyY896
Vet documentation about Leptospirosis: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fYKyfqSpQYhrCmYG9
Proof of mold: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3umbiVirxVignTrR9
Insurance Response: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DiUdbDEtuXingWWm8
Estimate to clean and replace: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z3VEy1vU2CfrmbmVA
Organizer and beneficiary
Carmen Barnes
Organizer
District Heights, MD
Ted Carpenter
Beneficiary