BEAUFORT, S.C. — Residents living in Beaufort Housing Authority properties told City Council this week that mold, sewage backups and insect infestations have become hard to ignore, and they want an independent review of how repairs are handled.
Speakers said problems stretch across multiple authority sites, including complexes in Yemassee Heights, Sandalwood Terrace and Port Royal. Tenants described throwing out damaged belongings, updating medications after mold exposure and struggling to breathe indoors for more than a few minutes.
A disabled veteran who organizes youth advocacy work told council the issues are not routine maintenance gripes but conditions that hit health, safety and peace of mind. Other residents said rising costs leave them with few places to move even when units feel unlivable.
In a written reply, the housing authority said complaints matter and that its job is to keep units livable. Officials asked tenants with unfinished repairs to open a work ticket or call their property office, and noted people can also bring issues to staff or the Board of Commissioners.
Residents are circulating a petition seeking meaningful change. The authority’s stated mission is to provide quality affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in a safe community environment while helping people move toward self-sufficiency.
