Tenants at Evergreen Ridge Apartments are going public with concerns about the mold infestation and many other health and safety issues at the Asheville complex. The news coverage has published as tenant organizers with the Asheville Area Tenant Union have been knocking doors and making connections so that residents dealing with the conditions can join together to stand up for their rights and dignity.
Evergreen Ridge is one of several complexes in Western NC that now have visible mold infestation problems following Hurricane Helene and its devastating floodwaters. It is a particularly difficult problem in jurisdictions like Asheville, where housing code does not regulate mold.
Blue Ridge Public Radio published several interviews with Evergreen residents, including AATU member “Dana” (an alias to protect her from potential retaliation). Dana has been dealing with constant sinus congestion, one of many symptoms people can experience when they are regularly breathing in mold spores.The situation at Evergreen is made worse by unresponsive maintenance and amenities services, where residents have waited years for basic repairs, including for broken air conditioning and flooded carpets.
AATU has been growing ranks and focusing on places like Evergreen, which lures tenants in with below-market pricing and leaves them in nearly uninhabitable conditions. Landlords like these are benefiting from a housing crisis following storms like Helene, which took many residences out of the housing pool.The BPR article was published soon after the car fire incident at Evergreen Ridge which destroyed AATU lead organizer Jen Hampton’s vehicle and which itself followed attempts of intimidation by maintenance staff. Despite this tense environment, tenants are still making their situation known and increasing the public scrutiny on the health problems presented by Evergreen’s mismanagement. A public safety fund set up to support tenants organizing in Asheville is still collecting donations and has worked to replace damaged property for Jen Hampton.