'It's basically killing you softly.' Mother of 5 concerned after living with mold for months inside her Hunts Point building
Ennis Lahoz says her building's management isn't taking proper care of the mold issues inside her apartment.
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Above Ennis Lahoz's kitchen is a black plastic bag covering the vent, after a patch of mold began to grow inside of the walls.
The mother of five has lived inside the Hunts Point building for six years.
In December, Lahoz said she noticed the air inside the home feel heavier.
"I had to put a plastic bag over the vent because there's a foul smell coming out," she said.
The concerned mother went to the building's management, Community Access, but Lahoz said they refused to believe there were any issues until several months later.
"At first they were denying me. They were like, 'Oh, no, that's just dust'... that I have to clean it up," she said.
In February, an inspection confirmed "elevated mold" was found inside of Lahoz's kitchen and bathroom vents.
Lahoz said management sent a worker to vacuum the affected area but it has not fixed the problem.
The mother has even noticed issues in her youngest children. She said, "His eye kept turning swollen and really red, so I thought it was pinkeye... I take him to the doctor and she explained that it's due to the mold."
In a statement, Chief Operating Officer at Community Access, Lorraine Coleman told News 12:
Community Access takes all reports of mold very seriously. When concerns are raised, we promptly engage qualified external professionals to conduct testing and remediation, complete any necessary work, and verify results through follow-up inspections, as was done in the case of apartment 3V. We will continue to support the tenant and remain committed to ensuring the apartment meets health and quality standards.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development shared, "We are deeply concerned and looking into this situation urgently because all tenants deserve to feel safe and secure in their homes."
