DOVER, Del.- Families who live in the Dover Air Force Base area say they have been living with mold issues and other problems at homes in the Eagle Heights Family Housing and are calling on the company that manages it to do more to address those issues.
Kasey Wilson said she and her family moved into a home at Eagle Heights in May while her husband was receiving out-of-state training. Over the last several months, she said mold and suspected mold has been found in various parts of their home, which is maintained by Hunt Military Communities.
The mold, Wilson said, has caused sickness with both herself and children and even trips to the hospital.
"This is going to cause long-term health problems, whether they want to admit it or not," she said.
Wilson said mold has been found locations like the area around her bedroom window, a closet, the attic, and the location of a leaky dishwasher.
Initially, Wilson said, a contractor hired by the property manager did not find mold in the area around her window but it was later discovered on a second visit.
Wilson said dealing with contractors hired by Hunt has been frustrating at times and believes steps like applying a mold-killing paint have not gone far enough.
"There's no oversight. No quality control---nothing," she said.
Wilson said she discovered on social media that many other families living on base housing were having similar problems and a group of concerned mothers began advocating online for better conditions.
In a statement, a Hunt Military Communities spokesperson said the company was committed to holding itself accountable and doing necessary improvements.
"We continue to vigilantly monitor conditions in our homes, and fully intend to approach any future issues, should they arise, with the utmost diligence to ensure that our housing communities meet or exceed expectations," the statement said.
Living conditions at military housing across the country has become an issue that has come under focus by Congress in recent years.
At a House subcommittee meeting last month, John Ehle, president of Hunt Military Communities, told representatives that the company was beefing up its response to mold at its facilities and at the corporate level.
"We've seen mold to an extent we haven't seen in a long, long time, caused by some extreme climatic conditions that haven't historically been seen but I don't think that's going to change in the future," he said.
Wilson is in the process of moving to Missouri because of her husband's new assignment in that state. But she said she worries for other families who have been struggling with conditions at Eagle Heights.
"I'm having issues sleeping because it makes me feel ill," she said. "Who is going to help these families?"