Thomas Libiszewski is a resident at the Washington House in Westfield. 

"I'm very well blessed for my grandson, who has autism, and myself, to have a roof over our heads and to live reasonably, but we would like to see the place as a safe place, a clean place, a well maintained place," he said. 

Libiszewski is a Navy veteran and has lived here for five years. His grandson lives down the hall and Libiszewski said the cleanliness of the building is a problem, including an outbreak of bed bugs. 

"The procedures on what they want an elderly or disabled or person who can’t read to go through is unreasonable and unacceptable," said Libiszewski. 

Daniel Kelly, executive director of the Westfield Housing Authority, said the bed bug issue is nothing new and is something they have been dealing with here for 15 years now. 

"The Housing Authority doesn't go in there and drop bed bugs into the place. That is something we have spent over $25,000 over the last two years trying to deal with," said Kelly. "People are bringing stuff in they shouldn't be bringing in, furniture off the streets and mattresses and things like that."

Libiszewski also said he fears for his safety because anyone can get into the building. He said people have used a stairwell as a bathroom.

"They have cameras there and they don't see that? They don't see homeless people getting in here? I am confused," said Libiszewski. 

But Kelly said the building is locked and secure. 

"Well, how do they get in there? It is a secure building, I have no idea how they are getting in. People are letting them in. You cannot get into that building unless you're a tenant. Tenants have keys and a fob key," said Kelly. 

With concerns about coronavirus, Libiszewski said the issues, along with ventilation, make him fearful for an outbreak. He said the windows in the halls were replaced in 2019 with ones which can’t be opened. He said he doesn’t think management is addressing tenants’ concerns in a timely manner. 

"It’s not like it happened yesterday, or last week or last year, or two years ago," he said. "This has been going on for years."

The Housing Authority said they spent $500,000 gutting both elevators and agree some of the building isn’t in the best shape. The facility is about 50 years old and Kelly added they are working with a contractor to replace carpeting and have hired an engineer to add fans by early summer to add ventilation through the building.

"We are spending money over there and it’s slow because of COVID, but it’s nobody's fault. It’s not my fault, it’s not the tenant’s fault, but a lot of the issues brought up are being dealt with now and once we get the okay from the state, we will make those renovations," said Kelly.