In Part 1 of a three-part series on WMUK, Wilburn and other tenants describe the problems with their units, and members of a group now known as the Housing Advocacy Collective explain why they believe the complex poses a threat to children’s health and development.
A group advocating for tenants reached out to local and federal housing authorities, sounding the alarm about conditions at Fox Ridge Apartments in Kalamazoo. But members felt they weren’t getting far. So they tried something else: contacting Independent Management Services, the company that manages Fox Ridge, with details of tenants’ complaints.
To the group’s surprise, IMS staff members agreed to meet.
In Part 2 the managers make their case to a skeptical group of advocates.
Managers at Fox Ridge Apartments in Kalamazoo say they care about tenants. But “Sam,” who used to work there, describes managers’ real attitude toward their renters as one of “disdain.” (We’re not using Sam’s real name because they fear retribution for speaking out.)
In the third and final part of our series, Sam describes questionable management practices at Fox Ridge to public officials, who seem alarmed — and poised to act. But will they?