Straight Talk: Low Income Housing

Crescent Halls

Straight Talk host Andri Hakes talks to Joy Johnson and Matt Murphy about Crescent Halls, a 105 unit apartment building run by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA). Located at 500 South First Street, near the IX Art Park, the complex is home to a number of low income families, seniors and disabled persons.

Residents are complaining about conditions at the facility, including broken air conditioning, bed bugs, mold, and a variety of other issues, which they say have persisted over a long period of time, despite repeated requests for help.

The CRHA is located in City Hall. Does City Council have any authority over them? Or are they only responsible to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)? How bad is the problem, really, and what can be done?

Andri Hakes is a Charlottesville based lawyer with the legal firm of Tucker Griffin Barnes P.C.

Straight Talk is heard on WPVC 94.7 Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m.The station is looking for volunteers. Apply here if you are interested in working with the station.