A mom with a young child says she got tired of living in an apartment without heat for moths, so she moved out. She then contacted Seven Action News, wanting help for the neighbors she left behind.
They live in an apartment building at Canfield and Belvedere on the city’s east side.
When we first approached residents, they told us it was true. They had no heat, but they didn’t want to speak because they feared they would be evicted and end up homeless.
We found only one man who said he felt sharing the truth was the right thing to do.
“Everybody else is sixty and older, and I look out for everybody,” said Omar Rhodes.
Rhodes said he decided to speak out because he is afraid for the people who live in the building. Everyone is heating their apartments with their stoves, and he is afraid it will lead to a fire .
Rhodes says the building’s boiler has been down for three or four months. He showed us that isn’t the only problem. The roof is leaking in multiple places into his apartment.
“I am not a dirty person, it is messed up,” said Rhodes.
I reached out to the landlord, Willie Thomas. Esther Baker answered the phone. She told me he was home, but did not want to speak. She was his girlfriend and would speak for him.
“He is a good man. He took food out of our house and fed these people. He’s done a lot for these people, so how dare them go put him on some type of news?” said Esther. “Look, they lying.”
When asked how long the heat had been out, she said it had not been 3-4 months. It had been two months.
“That’s ridiculous. Anytime a landlord hears a tenant is without heat, he should be acting immediately to do something,” said David Bell, Detroit’s Director of the Buildings, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental Department.
He told the landlord get it fixed up or pay up.
As for residents concerned about losing their apartments, Bell says if the issue isn’t fixed the city will help them find another place to stay.
“We are here to help folks, and call us if you need us. You don’t need to give your name, just give an address,” said Bell.
Now - the landlord says he will take action by next week to start addressing issues.
