Tenant Wants Mold Problem Fixed

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"It's like I'm stuck in hell"
Posted: 3:12 PM May 30, 2008
Last Updated: 7:43 PM May 30, 2008

26 comments

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A heartland woman has concerns for the health of her family. She believes the house she lives in has mold growing in the furnace.

Briauna al-Muhaimin gets a whiff of it every time she turns the furnace on and she believes that the leaking foundation of the house she rents is causing a health problem.

Briauna is on Section 8 housing, has two young children and is seven months pregnant.

She showed us a furnace filter which appears to have a lot of water running through it. A maintenance man checked for the problem.

"He told me that it's mold," Briauna said. "He said that he'd see that mold is growing inside this brand new furnace from the foundation leaking and it's sucking it up when I turn on my air conditioner or heat. I've been wondering why we've been getting sick since we've been living in this house."

An Omaha Housing Authority inspector agreed that there is a potential problem.

The out-of-town owner has 30 days to make repairs but the local management company can't fix the problem without the owner's consent.

Briauana wants something done.

"It's like I'm stuck in hell," she said.

The property management representative tells Six on Your Side they will fix the problem but the owner has yet to be contacted. The owner will lose Section 8 funding if repairs are not made.

Briauana says she wants the Omaha Housing Authority to move her to another home.

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Posted by: Richard on Jun 3, 2008 at 12:30 PM
I would move but since i live in a decent apt and its pretty reasonable, i prefer to pay less money and i didnt say i didnt like sect 8 people, i said it tends to bring SOME trashy people. And the reason the majority of people are complaining about sect 8 is due to the fact they prob have to go to work and bust there butts just to pay there rent and this lady prob doesnt even work and gets assistance and is complaining about her living situation when the fact is if there was no sect 8, she would either be living with her parents or homeless. Beggers cant be chosers and AGAIN, im not degrading those that are needing state help, just the ones that keep having kids when they dam well know they cant afford one and rely on the taxpayers to help them. I agree that the mold needs to be taken care of regardless of sect 8 or not.

Posted by: TE on Jun 3, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Is the drugs and crimes higher in sect 8 areas really ? Or is just the places that they have on the news.. There are alot of high crime areas like downtown that have no sect 8 and are now supposedly high class areas... People should think before they speak

Posted by: Abbie C. on Jun 3, 2008 at 10:23 AM
lets get real has a real attitude about this and sounds to me shes trying to defend the section 8 peps. peps on section 8 should be more respectable at that. peps on section 8 have a bad name. Peps on section 8 seem to not have a job for some reason or trying to cheat out the states money. No peps with section 8 life free however instead of 600.00 rent they pay maybe 20.00. my only suggestion ms or mr lets get real, stop defending all of your friends and or family thats on section 8, dont take it personal, and you know that , pay my own rent sound correct in he or shes arguemens.

Posted by: Let's Get Real on Jun 3, 2008 at 07:48 AM
First off I am not on section 8 and even if I was I would thank you "pay my own rent" for paying my rent! You would be surprised how many apt buildings do take section 8 is just that not to many apt buildings broadcast that they do. Being on section 8 does not mean free living it is reduced no one on section 8 has $0.00 for there rent so please do your research before you try and start talking about someone who "lives free" you also state at the age of 19 you should rely on the state but being on section 8 is a problem what is the difference? and to Richard If you don't like people on section 8 don't stay in a apt complex that accepts section 8 DUH!!! Also section 8 has a certain criteria that apt complex's have to meet some Apt building's don't meet that criteria and that is another reason why some apt do not accept section 8 it has nothing to do with the people who wouldn't want a guaranteed payment on rent??? Think about it.

Posted by: Richard on Jun 2, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Ok, I totally agree as far as how section 8 could be seen as "trashy" but I know theres good people that need help sometimes and im not tyring to degrade that but what im saying is what others say drugs and crime is higher in sect 8 areas. Not saying everyone is a drug user on section 8 but its true as far as bringing trashy people, i should know i live unfortunatly in an apt complex that accepts sect 8 and no im not on section 8.

Posted by: Abbie on Jun 2, 2008 at 04:22 PM
I agree pay my own rent nothing more to say at that you got it on the money

Posted by: Pay My Own Rent on Jun 2, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Why do you think so many apartment complexes went from accepting Section 8 to NOT accepting Section 8, when its a guarentee rent payment? Because theres crime, drugs a so forth, wow people are really good about turning stories around on this blog! Im merly making it a fact that she doesnt need to complain about where she lives, especially if its merly free. Im sure you, Lets Get Real, your on Section 8? But that doesnt really matter, I guess maybe to I didnt make any sort of a point when It comes to her complaining about a free place to live, but maybe other people will understand you have to pay you own bills and rent, once you hit an age of like 19, you should have to rely on the state, or live with your parents or homeless, if 9 out of 10 of us can do, why couldnt the 10? only because they dont chose to. Anyway like I said many apartment complexs are no longer accepting Section 8 because of my points.

Posted by: Let's Get Real on Jun 2, 2008 at 03:35 PM
I pay my own rent as well and let me just state I know section 8 people are not the only people who have parties, drugs, and what the heck does section 8 have to do with the crime rate I don’t understand you people so typical of you to pass judgment what about the landlord a couple of weeks ago who stayed in a half a million dollar home and was renting walls with a roof and that was just about it I can guarantee section 8 had nothing to do with that. Come on now people section 8 people are not the only people to have parties or drugs and the crime rate has nothing to do with it let’s get real and keep it real. "Pay my own rent" nice way to contradict yourself by saying “people are making mean comments about section 8 people” but then you go and say “we've all had section 8 neighbors parties, drugs, and crime" Give Me a Break.

Posted by: Pay My Own Rent and Proud of It on Jun 2, 2008 at 02:29 PM
She doesnt have a right to complain. I feel for your well being-however you have a place to live and a roof over your head at the tax payors expense. This women loves kids and her own at that and hope she takes care of them. and the comments about her and her so many daddies and popping out so many kids is mean, her kids are our future, however again, she has no room to complain, maybe you dont like in the best house- but what could you afford on your own/without section 8? something better? Linden Estates maybe? didnt think so, so please brianna, accept what you have isnt going to be the best out there because its free, at our expense, but you shouldnt have taken it this far, in doing so, there are these ignorant, mean people out here makeing these horrible comments about people on section 8. Section 8 has a bad name, but its people that do this that makes that, not to mention the neighbors on section 8 we've all had, the parties, drugs and crime rate

Posted by: richard on Jun 2, 2008 at 02:12 PM
By the way, has anyone thought of the idea this landlord is only doing this to get rid of the tenant. I think he should fix it either way, mold doesnt go away but this could be a way to get rid of the tenant.

Posted by: TE on Jun 2, 2008 at 02:09 PM
It is very interesting that the only thing that people can talk abt is the fact that she is on Sect 8 and has 2 and half kids. The purpose of the story was in regards to the mold.It doesn't matter if she was on Sect 8 or not.. The house could have been all that she could afford.. Secondly would it be any different if she wasn't on sec 8 and this is the house that she found to live in.. probably so, then people would be inquiring more so abt this landlord and not the issue of the sect 8 and kids..

Posted by: RM on May 31, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Does section 8 give you more money for more kids Hey Briauana the tax paying public wants you to stop having more kids at our expense The heck with OHA

Posted by: money on May 31, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Quit getting pregnant and you can pay to move yourself...just a thought.

Posted by: Fred on May 31, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Stuck in hell paid for by tax payers. Odds are she is a single mother cranking out kids by multiple "fathers". Get a job and support ourself.

Posted by: Responsible Citizen on May 31, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Perhaps Ms al-Muhaimin should make better choices and she would not be in this situation. Stop having children, get a job and get off of section 8.

Posted by: Stacey on May 31, 2008 at 11:14 AM
How about Briauana quit having children when she obviously can't afford to take care of herself! I'm sick of my taxes dollars going to people who don't know how to use birth control!!!!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 31, 2008 at 09:04 AM
I don't want to seem insensitive, but here's an idea.. Get off section-8. Low priced housing no matter what percentage of the rent the tenant is paying, is still just that... low priced housing. If the foundation is leaking it's probably a home that is nearly a century old.

Posted by: confused on May 31, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Does anyone else see the real problem with this story. She is on section 8 with 2 young kids and one on the way. Maybe if she spent more time working at a job to pay her bills to have a nice place to live than making babies...she wouldn't be living in a sespool

Posted by: Mel on May 31, 2008 at 07:25 AM
I feel bad for this renter, but don't think it is fair to the owner to run this article before they've even been contacted about the problem. Even though their name is not mentioned, this could potentially cause them embarrassment. It isn't a good thing that they have to live in this home, but WOWT and renter should have at least made the contact first.

Posted by: Landlord on May 31, 2008 at 01:54 AM
Get out of the house, then. Obviously it's unsafe. Does she think she can sue for medical damages?

Posted by: TMJ on May 31, 2008 at 01:02 AM
Here's a suggestion: stop having babies, get a job, and then you can afford a nicer place that doesn't have so many health problems!

Posted by: S.Jean on May 30, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Why should OHA "move her to another home"? Move yourself out. Pay for your own housing that is better than Section 8 Housing. Life is made of choices...choose to be responsible for yourself.

Posted by: anomymous on May 30, 2008 at 06:51 PM
On section 8 and pregnant? If you can't afford to pay your bills on your own without the help of the government, what in the world are you doing getting pregnant. Try birth control. She should be DISQUALIFIED from section 8. This is a bunch of crap. The taxpayers footing the bill for someone that can't seem to keep heer clothes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!