Like many people, Anne Cary wants to live in a simple and safe home. She was evicted from her previous home a couple of years ago, then lived in an extended-stay motel while searching for places that would accept her housing voucher.
She has a disability and developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder after the death of her husband.
In October, she found a spot at The Elisabetta, an affordable housing complex in Globeville that caters to adults with disabilities through supportive services.
But Cary said she hasn't felt that support since she's moved in.
Instead, she's dealt with neighbors' units flooding, unfixed structural damage caused by the flooding, leaky roofs in laundry rooms, and unlocked doors to the complex that allow anyone to enter.
Cary and several other residents say the unsafe environment and deteriorating conditions of the building have been ignored by the property management team. Like several other apartment complexes in recent months, they've formed a tenants' union.
With the help of Denver-Aurora Tenants United, some Elisabetta residents drafted a demand letter, listing their concern and requesting a meeting with developer and property management Gorman & Company and service provider Laradon.
Their first request is for management to be transparent about what they're doing to ensure the safety of residents. Cary and other residents said they've been plagued by random people walking in and out of the property, sleeping on the property and using drugs.
According to data from Denver Police, crime spiked at the Elisabetta in 2021 with 38 crimes being reported at 5120 N. Broadway. Most of those were auto thefts or thefts from cars. This year, in the surrounding 5100 block, a murder occurred in January and a slew of public disorder, larceny, burglary and assault crimes.
Another issue is the lack of timely response for maintenance issues. Several residents said during the holidays last year, a pipe burst, flooding several units. Some residents who use wheelchairs were stuck in their apartments until firefighters arrived, according to Cary.
While the building sorted out the damage, some residents were placed in hotels with no information on when they could return to their homes. Cary said some of the damage from the flooding is still visible, including an underpass that leads to the building's courtyard.
Other issues include uneven enforcement of lease rules and the use of vacate orders for late payments with no due process.
On Tuesday, several residents handed Gorman employees their demand letter.
The employees immediately told residents that any criminal activity on the property has to be dealt with by police.
"All we want is to be safe in the building," said Katherine H., a resident who moved into the building when it first opened. Kathrine declined to provide her last name.
"You know management has nothing to do with criminal activity," an employee said. "If that's where your anger is at, it needs to be at the police department."
The employee repeatedly referred to the tenants as "angry," but Katherine replied that residents were not angry or attempting to attack management. She again stated that the demands in the letter were about safety concerns.
An employee took the letter and informed the group that anyone who didn't live on the property would need to leave. Most of the group were residents besides a representative with DATU and a local community leader.
Police were called and five officers showed up about 10 minutes later. Cary said she's seen police once since moving into the building.
The employee reiterated to Denverite that "anything criminal is only the police department." She gave Denverite Gorman's corporate number and added that "they will tell you that, as well."
Messages left with the corporate number weren't immediately returned.
This is the second affordable housing complex in Denver to form a tenants' union in recent months due to living conditions. In May, residents at the Viña Apartments in Elyria-Swansea had similar concerns with lack of communication and safety. Both complexes received city and state funding to construct the properties.
According to the Department of Housing Stability, or HOST, one of the financers on both projects, annual inspections have been completed at both properties to ensure compliance with HUD's Housing Quality Standards. Derek Woodbury, the communications director with HOST, said recent inspections determined both projects were in compliance.
Woodbury added that HOST was aware of tenant complaints at Viña and has since spoken with the owners and property management to address the concerns. He said HOST will look into the concerns expressed by Elisabetta residents.
According to DATU, property managers at Viña have begun working with residents to solve their issues.
Cary and Katherine said they expected the response they received from Gorman employees but ultimately they hope Gorman will address their concerns. They've requested a meeting with Gorman for Aug. 10.
"It's my understanding that safety is property management's responsibility. Who else would it be?," Cary said. "I don't believe that Gorman property management or any cooperation should be getting subsidies from HUD, from U.S. taxpayer money to be slumlords. To collect disabled people's voucher money and then claim that they're not responsible for the upkeep of anything."
Reporting contributed by Kevin J. Beaty
