Several residents addressed the commission on Sept. 3 to urge city intervention regarding living conditions and management at Tallahassee Housing Authority properties.

Lede: Speakers at the meeting described hazardous housing conditions — including mold, burst pipes and safety issues — and alleged retaliation when residents request repairs. They asked city leaders to hold the Tallahassee Housing Authority accountable to HUD standards and Florida statutes and to ensure residents can access grievance processes and representation.

Nut graf: The commission heard multiple accounts of poor maintenance and claimed retaliation such as delayed repairs and threats of eviction after tenants reported conditions. Speakers said some residents — seniors and people with disabilities — lack resources to pursue remedies and asked commissioners to demand oversight, enforcement and timely repairs. Commissioners responded by asking staff to arrange an update from the housing authority.

Public comments and requests: Khalilah Stanley asked the commission for urgent intervention to compel compliance with federal and state housing rules and to protect tenants’ rights. Other speakers, including Oliver Hill, recounted long-standing problems in public housing and called for stronger accountability. Commissioners suggested the Tallahassee Housing Authority bring a formal update to the commission; the mayor asked staff to schedule an annual housing authority briefing.

Outcome and next steps: Commissioners agreed to request a return presentation from the Tallahassee Housing Authority — the mayor suggested scheduling the authority for an annual update this fall — and identified the city’s housing liaison as a point of contact for residents. No formal enforcement action was taken by the commission at the meeting; residents were told the housing authority and HUD processes can be pursued outside the commission cycle as well.