PEORIA (25News Now) - Unstable heat, rats in the walls, and lead paint are just a few of the issues one family said plagues the Harrison Homes in Peoria.
Dominique Comer’s wife and son were living in one of the HH building’s apartment units, and he said after begging and pleading with the Peoria Housing Authority weekly since September 2024, he had enough.
“Automatically, you can see the problems with the apartment,” Comer stated. “The lead paint coming off the walls, for one, as you guys saw the first thing when you walked in, it hits you in the face. The mold growing in the bathroom is also a big concern, and it’s just something a lot of us here have to deal with.”
He also said the heat and air conditioning units are unstable, meaning either crisp and cold nights or hot and humid days.
“For the projects, we’re still people down here,” he said. “We still deserve to at least be a little comfortable. We pay rent, and we pay whatever we have to pay. We’re on the daily grind like everyone else, we just want to come home for the few hours we have off and relax.”
Comer said he used the building’s 24/7 maintenance line to report his findings to the PHA. However, every time a worker came out to investigate the issues, they told Comer they will put a ticket in, with little to nothing changing after that.
According to Comer, several other neighbors had similar issues and would visit the building office normally to complain, but like Comer, saw no change.
In a statement sent to 25News, Armeca Crawford, the PHA’s CEO, explained that an ongoing revitalization program is underway, and it aims to address the many concerns expressed by tenants.
“PHA has an overall commitment to improving and addressing longstanding concerns at Harrison Homes South, built in 1942. Over the past year, we have been and will continue to, remediate safety deficiencies in the units or by relocating families from units with identified concerns, to ensure their well-being as we engage in a comprehensive redevelopment strategy for Harrison Homes South.”
Crawford said the program, known as the Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, would have residents relocated to new housing while remodeling apartments with issues.
According to the CEO, over 70 families are living in HH currently, while only 15 people have been transitioned into new homes. Crawford said there is no exact date for demolishing the old homes.
However, according to the program’s website, the initiative was launched in August 2024, while the last committee meeting discussing the plan happened in February. No official discussion took place since then.
Additionally, Crawford said the apartment complex has a lead and rat abatement program.
“PHA has pest-management procedures in place. For rat abatement specifically, once rats are reported or identified in individual units or the building, PHA’s pest control contractor is contacted to assess, place bait, identify access points, and provide resident education. PHA also follows HUD guidelines for the evaluation and control of lead-based paint hazards in housing.”
Comer said despite those claims from the apartment complex management, he is beyond disappointed to see the condition remain the same.
“Any landlord that I’ve come across in my 35 years has come and done an inspection every month, or every other month to make sure the apartment or house was habitable, and still can function in great condition,” he said. “PHA does none of this, yet they have all year to check all these apartments and all of these areas.”
Comer stated he is mainly concerned about his son’s health and is at his wits’ end.
“There’s no winning with this place,” he said. “Forget my kid — what about the rest of these kids around here living in these conditions? Fortunately, we have the money now to get up and move, but it’s not the same for the rest of these people here.”
On April 8, Comer not only moved out of the Harrison Homes, but he also left the state entirely. He now lives in Missouri.
Comer said he has empathy for the other children and elderly living there, who can’t afford to move out, and still hopes something can be done.
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