Milwaukee, WI — A battle against bedbugs at a Milwaukee high-rise apartment has escalated into a courtroom fight, with tenants alleging neglect by the city’s housing authority. Carmella Holloway, a resident of College Court managed by the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM), is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that claims tenants are forced to endure “uninhabitable” living conditions.
The legal action, filed last month in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, aims to hold HACM accountable for what tenants describe as severe and ongoing bedbug infestations. Michael Cerjak, the attorney representing the residents, emphasizes that this lawsuit marks a significant move towards remedying the living conditions without seeking monetary compensation. Instead, plaintiffs are demanding rent abatement until the issue is resolved, citing violations of their right to a decent living environment.
College Court, consisting of two towers with 251 one-bedroom units, is a facility designated for low-income individuals. Since its construction in 1968, residents have complained of persistent maintenance and pest control issues. Although HACM officials have declined to comment on ongoing litigation, the tenants’ frustrations reflect a growing concern over living standards.
Residents like Stacy Ream have been vocal about the impact of the infestation on their health and safety. “I pay my rent on time every month but find myself staying at my mother’s house to escape the bugs,” Ream stated. This sentiment underscores the desperation felt by many who feel trapped in these conditions.
The lawsuit is part of a broader campaign led by Common Ground of Southeastern Wisconsin, an organization that has been outspoken about the need for systemic changes within HACM. For years, Common Ground has been demanding a probe into the authority’s operations and a leadership overhaul to address issues such as lost rent payments and neglected maintenance.
Previously, the City of Milwaukee has taken steps to address these concerns by beginning to supervise the handling of maintenance complaints by HACM residents. Moreover, the Common Council approved $250,000 in funding last October aimed at expediting repairs and maintenance across housing authority properties.
Documents obtained through records requests by Common Ground reveal thousands of work orders issued over the past five years, indicating not only routine upkeep but also significant grievances labeled “pest control,” with numerous references to roaches and bedbugs.
At a news conference, Kevin Solomon, a Common Ground organizer, expressed the organization’s reluctance to resort to legal action. “We didn’t want to sue. We were forced to,” Solomon explained, advocating for a comprehensive pest control approach rather than sporadic efforts which he likened to playing “whack-a-mole.”
Amidst calls for accountability, the spotlight has fallen on Willie Hines, head of HACM, criticized for what many see as insufficient responses to the infestation issues. Pastor Will Davis of Invisible Reality Ministries and a member of Common Ground’s Strategy Team did not mince words about the performance of Hines and his administration. “Nothing at HACM will improve until Hines and senior leadership are replaced,” Davis argued. “HACM’s biggest problem is incompetent management — not money or systems.”
The escalation of this bedbug issue to court highlights a critical juncture for HACM and the residents of College Court, stirring wider conversations about the rights of tenants and the responsibilities of housing authorities in Milwaukee and beyond.