Residents at the Calvert Square public housing complex in Norfolk, Virginia, have endured weeks without adequate heating, prompting significant concerns about living conditions as winter temperatures approach. The Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) began notifying residents of the heating outage on December 5, 2023, yet many claim issues have persisted far longer, with reports of inadequate space heaters and other maintenance problems.
Whitney Spearman, a resident for over four years, expressed her frustrations during a recent NRHA board meeting. She has reportedly been without heat since October 28, the day the complex’s aging boiler system was activated. On that day, a burst radiator caused flooding in her unit, damaging personal belongings. Following this incident, Spearman and her four-year-old son were temporarily relocated to a model unit, only to find it lacked heat as well. She described receiving a small space heater, insufficient for her needs, leading to further complications when using a second heater overloaded the circuit, cutting off power to her unit.
The challenges at Calvert Square extend beyond heating issues. Residents have reported flooding from burst pipes and unexpected fees associated with hotel accommodations. Melissa Bonfiglio, deputy director and director of litigation at the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia, highlighted these concerns to the NRHA, noting that some residents were unexpectedly required to pay a $100 incidental deposit upon arrival at hotels, forcing at least one family to walk back to Calvert Square in the dark and rain after being denied accommodation.
Approximately 280 of the 310 units at Calvert Square are currently occupied. The complex, established in 1957, is slated for demolition and redevelopment into a mixed-use facility, with plans potentially materializing in 2027.
The NRHA has stated that it is actively working to assist residents and intends to remain on-site until all heating issues are resolved. Officials anticipate a clearer timeline for repairs following the arrival of necessary materials, expected on Tuesday. In a recent statement, the authority expressed confidence that residents would soon be able to return to their homes with functioning heat and assured that alternative housing would be arranged if needed.
As winter sets in, the urgency of the situation has drawn attention from city officials, including Mayor Kenny Alexander, who emphasized the necessity for residents to have reliable heating. “No resident in the city should have to rely on inadequate space heaters or pay out-of-pocket costs to stay warm,” Alexander remarked, encouraging the NRHA to cover all related expenses for affected residents.
During a meeting on Thursday, NRHA commissioners expressed their commitment to addressing the situation. Amy Chudzinski, a commissioner, asserted that providing heat in homes is a priority, criticizing the lack of communication from the housing authority staff. Fellow commissioner Philip Smith found the testimonies from residents to be heart-wrenching, stating, “We hear you and we are going to address this.”
The heating crisis at Calvert Square comes in the wake of administrative changes within the NRHA, as the board voted to terminate former executive director Nathan Simms‘ contract in November. Michael Clark, previously the deputy executive director, has stepped in as interim director as the search for a permanent replacement continues.
As the weekend forecast predicts temperatures to drop into the low 20s Fahrenheit, the urgency for effective resolution remains critical. The community’s response to the NRHA’s handling of the heating crisis highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining adequate living conditions for residents in public housing.
