Residents confront Northampton Housing Authority over living conditions

NORTHAMPTON — Residents of Northampton Housing Authority properties aired complaints about crime, pest infestations, asbestos, and broken elevators at a Monday morning forum with the authority's board, executive director, and state Sen. Jo Comerford.

Tenants packed the community room at the Walter Salvo House on Conz Street to discuss conditions across NHA properties. The quasi-public agency manages 567 housing units across 13 buildings in Northampton and Florence. Concerns included delayed maintenance work orders, ventilation issues, pest infestations, security breaches, and drug dealing on the properties.

NHA Executive Director Sharon Kimble acknowledged the agency faces a crime problem but said the issue is complicated by residents allowing visitors onto the property. "If a tenant says, 'Oh no, they're visiting me,' they can still visit that tenant," Kimble said. "I'm well aware we have a problem. Northampton Police Department is well aware we have a problem."

Residents questioned when inspection reports from the state's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities would be made public. Kimble responded that reports are shared at NHA meetings and noted that state inspectors found no mold at the Cahill Apartment complex, contrary to residents' claims. She also defended the agency's handling of exposed asbestos, saying it was covered. Some attendees disputed this account, stating that asbestos in tiles remained exposed and disturbed.

Kimble stated that between police details and private security contracted to monitor the Salvo and Cahill buildings four days per week, the properties receive security coverage. She attributed part of the maintenance backlog to prior budgetary mismanagement and said that in her first four months as director, maintenance completed more than 2,100 work orders.

NHA Director of Maintenance Anthony Patterson said the agency treats the Salvo House for cockroaches twice monthly but struggles to control the infestation partly because residents leave trash in their units. He also reported he is working with the Northampton Fire Department to replace the Cahill building's smoke detection system with heat detectors, after more than 45 false fire alarm calls triggered by shower steam.

At-large City Councilor Meg Robbins and Ward 6 City Councilor Christopher Stratton, both present at the meeting, called the crime complaints "very concerning." Robbins said officers have suggested increased nighttime security presence and that residents have offered suggestions for improvements, but she was uncertain how to proceed with implementation.

Comerford told the crowd that advocacy is essential to effective government. "The difference between government working, and not working, is your advocacy," she said.