A Somali family headed by Haji Mamo, center, is shown here after they were displaced from a condemned apartment in Springfield in May. (The Republican file)
By Stephanie Berry
SPRINGFIELD – A large family of Somalirefugees have a new home in the city after being driven from an apartment on Union Street in May by roaches, bedbugs, darkness and overcrowding.
The family, which includes 12 children, was living at 515 Union St. when one of the older children called police in May because their electricity had been shut off for days. City housing officials were notified and found “heavy infestations” of roaches and bedbugs, plus noting the house was far too small to accommodate the family, which had grown exponentially since they moved in.
The issue also revived the controversy in the city over managing the influx of Somali refugees since 2003. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has repeatedly called for a moratorium on new placements, arguing the families tax the city’s housing and school systems and don’t receive the proper long-term supports.
The city condemned the apartment; property manager David Sims was hauled into Springfield Housing Court and the family was temporarily relocated to a hotel shelter in Greenfield. However, lawyers for Sims and the family reached an agreement on Tuesday to move the family to a duplex at 185-187 Northampton Ave., which has been cleared by city inspectors, according to Lisa DeSousa, a lawyer for the city.
Family members Haji Mamo, his wife, Habiba Said and sister-in-law Sitey Said were in court Tuesday, and sorted out the agreement with the help of a Somali interpreter in a closed-door meeting.
The family also filed a demand for nearly $133,000 in monetary claims with the housing court. The complaint contends they should get abatements for rent, nearly $10,000 in “homeless damages,” and treble damages near $83,000 because of the conditions of the Union Street apartment.
Daniel D. Kelly, a lawyer for Sims, denies the allegations in the complaint including that Sims willfully ignored code violations and deliberately impaired the health and well-being of family members.
“It was a combination of problems that came about very quickly. There were other agencies that had inspected the property over the previous year,” and identified no urgent problems, Kelly said.
Sims said the family was much smaller when he originally rented the apartment to them. Kelly said the Department of Transitional Assistance paid for the family’s shelter costs while Sims sought more appropriate housing for the Somali family.
“He was happy to do it,” Kelly said.
The monetary demands are still outstanding. Aaron Dulles, a lawyer for the family, said there was no discussion about during the conference that yielded the housing agreement.
“We were focused on the very important issue of getting them out of shelter and into better housing,” Dulles said.
DeSousa said Sims is still working with the city to remedy the infestation problem at Union Street; a final inspection is scheduled for Sept. 26.
“I think it’s a good ending,” she said, noting that the city has no stake in the cross-claims – which include “breach of covenant of quiet enjoyment.”
Family members told Dulles they could be ready to move to their new home as early as Wednesday. Kelly said the Northampton Avenue duplex was completely renovated by Sims after a fire.
Source: MassLive
