I believe the Westmoreland County Housing Authority continues to blame residents of subsidized housing for deteriorating facilities while sweeping growing complaints under the rug. Issues reported include accessible elevators that do not work, mold, poor water and sewage systems, bug infestations, old, malfunctioning appliances and broken HVAC systems that can take weeks or months to repair. And all too often residents who speak out are threatened with eviction/rents increases.
Subsidized housing in Westmoreland County shelters retired veterans, working families and seniors who deserve dignified and safe living conditions. Instead, it seems their requests go unanswered and they are maligned by those in power simply because they have fallen on hard times.
According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, in 2019, 53 million Americans, or 44% of the nation’s workers aged 18 to 64, held low-wage jobs that paid a yearly median wage of $18,000. Think about that. Working families have been economically devastated by companies closing, downsizing, modernization, illness and the pandemic. And the elderly and disabled who can’t work are forgotten.
Residents in need of subsidized housing are not there because of bad choices. The housing authority needs to remember that and not be so quick to judge.
Eileen Krynock
Washington Township, Westmoreland County
The writer is co-lead of membership engagement for Voice of Westmoreland.