Not too far from downtown Los Angeles, on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Whitmer Street, there is a grey and orange six-storey building intended to serve as permanent support housing for former homeless people.
But for many tenants who had long dreamed of moving from the street to their apartment, the facility became a horror show.
In a lawsuit filed against the facility’s current and previous owners and property managers, the tenants say the building has fallen into distrust and has lacked security for months, allowing outsiders to wander around the property, causing break-in, drug use and fires on stairs.
Attorney Josh Nuni presents the case to one of the plaintiffs, Donald Trahan.
Complaints regarding shortages of hot water, power outages, cockroaches and mold contamination have not been answered, according to the tenants. And the only elevator in the building is prone to breaking several disabled tenants who have been forced to resort to their neighbors for food and groceries for several months in one case.
One wheelchair tenant spoke at a time when he had to craze stairs like a child. Another tenant said he suffered a stroke after climbing the sixth floor stairs and carrying groceries.
And now, after complaining for years, the tenants say they have no choice but to sue the owner and property manager to allow the building to fall into extreme neglect and devastation exposed to “bad living conditions.”
The development of the multi-million dollar building, including studios and one-bedroom units, a central courtyard, an outdoor deck and parking for up to 34 vehicles, began in 2014 and was completed in 2020.
According to the lawsuit, the building was celebrated for obtaining sustainability certification from “LEED FOR HOMES” and first implemented both stormwater and greywater use to provide toilets and irrigation.
The building is partially funded by tenant rents and public subsidies, including from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency and the Los Angeles Health Agency.
The Permanent Supported Housing Project is aimed at people who have experienced chronic homelessness and are demonstrating the need for housing support.
“The way this property is run is not only immoral, but also a complete betrayal of the trust of the people,” said Josh Nuni of People’s Law Project, who works with Capstone Law APC to represent the tenants. “The defendant here received millions of public money for the brand new building and completely dismembered it.”
Standing outside the building earlier this week, longtime tenant Nereida Vazquez, 48, shed tears when she and 23 other current and former tenants received copies of the lawsuit, named plaintiffs.
“What we want is to live a normal life. We have a home and try to live independently and productively like everyone else,” she said crying.
Residents gather outside the permanent support housing complex at the heart of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, nominated property owners, 7th and Whitmer as defendants, overseeing business operations and managing the 76-unit building.
Two companies are named: Decro Witmer and Trillium Property Management. In August, Decro began handling business operations, while Trillium began managing real estate.
Decro’s CEO Ted Handel said he had never seen the lawsuit and was unable to respond to allegations made by the tenants.
“If they were claiming activity before September 2024, it was not under our supervision,” he said.
However, Handel admits that the building was in ruins when his company boarded, and tries to address several issues, including security issues.
Handel said the company hired a new security company and installed security cameras, but was awaiting approval for city permits to further enhance security.
“We have taken many proactive steps to ensure the safety, security and well-being of our residents, which is paramount to our work,” he said.
The lawsuit alleges that the company has failed to address many of the building’s issues, including bugs and rat intrusions. He alleged that the lack of lawsuits led to break-in, theft and attacks.
Residents gather outside a residential complex near downtown Los Angeles.
“A constantly malfunctioning elevator that has been left unimpeded for some time, and monitors disabled tenants upstairs, forcing all tenants to be damaged by fire and to force them to walk up and down dangerous, unadorned stairwells scattered with garbage, drug tools and human feces,” the lawsuit partially read.
Building units suffer from severe moisture and moisture buildup, including under the floor boards. According to the lawsuit, it contributes to mold contamination.
“Plumbing defects with sewage backup and overflow. [tenants] “To experience skin infections and irritations, especially in the lower limbs of tenants, puffy, red, cracked skin and oozing skin,” Suit read.
The lawsuit also alleges that the company did not repeatedly repair the building, even if it was told by an inspector in the Los Angeles Housing Division to do so.
“I know this place at Witmer [Street]”There was a problem with this place, but new partners have come in and we’ve been working to stabilize the property.”
Shadow said there is only one city compliance order, a requirement to modify the elevator.
Handel said the elevator had been fixed. However, he pointed out that once the elevator disassembled, the tenants were temporarily placed in the hotel while repairs were being made.
Tenants said they noticed recent improvements. They said there was a door lock on the emergency door and the elevator was secured. They confirm that the elevator was placed at the hotel when it was recently up and complain that the hotel is not safe and is ramping to prostitution and drug use.
Shana Hauanio, 52, who lives on the third floor of the building, recalls having to cradle the stairs when the elevator recently broke down. Sometimes she said her 67-year-old boyfriend had to help her climb the stairs.
“It’s humiliating,” she said.
One of the plaintiffs, Andrew Amell, lives in a unit with an unusable toilet, among other plumbing issues. He showers elsewhere.
Tenant Andrew Amell, who uses a wheelchair after losing his leg, said he needs to drag the chair up and down the stairs to see a doctor and get groceries.
Richard McCray, 65, who lives on the top floor of the building and uses a cane, said he collapsed several times on the stairs and asked his friends and neighbors to watch over him as a precaution against further waterfalls.
He said he suffered a stroke two years ago when he returned with groceries and found the elevator wasn’t working and was forced to climb stairs several times.
However, recently he said he was forced to go up stairs when the elevator wasn’t working, and security didn’t allow people to come to his apartment to deliver food and medicine.
“Not,” he said. “Even my physical therapist didn’t let him in. I had to get off and take him with me when the elevator broke.”
The tenants hope that the lawsuit will encourage operators to address other issues in the building.
“Permanent support housing is important and there’s more to be done,” Nuni said.
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