Omaha Housing Authority under fire again from Underwood Tower residents

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Community leaders and tenants at Underwood Tower in Dundee are speaking out about what they say are poor living conditions. Underwood Tower is an Omaha Housing Authority-controlled property.

Resident Latonia Freeman has a list of complaints.

“Bed bugs, roaches, mice,” she said. “Mold is the number one in my building.”

Freeman is trying to bring attention to the issues, so they are addressed.

“We’re tired of it. We’re tired of living like this,” she said.

Joanie Poore, OHA’s chief executive officer, says she takes complaints very seriously.

“If there is a concern, whether that be mold or a ventilation issue, we want to help get that resolved, so if somebody hasn’t submitted a work order we want them to do that.”

Freeman says she has, to no avail.

“I filed accommodations, I filed work orders, and nothing has been done,” she said.

One tenant invited in her own inspector, Jon Traudt, for an assessment.

“Some of the ventilation systems are not working, some are taped up because the tenants didn’t want any bugs coming out of the vents anymore,” he said. “I did find mold growing on the bathroom wall.”

Traudt showed 6 News pictures of vents that were covered. He also showed pictures of ceilings and walls that had cracked because of moisture.

However, Traudt’s inspection was cut short. Traudt was told to leave and was escorted off the property by Omaha Police.

“Troudt had indicated to one of our employees that he was a city inspector, which he is not,” Poore said. “We have very specific procurement regulations and requirements that we follow in order to meet with work with to select the vendors that we work with, and Mr. Traudt is not one of them.

Traudt denies saying he was a city inspector. He says nothing will stop him from trying to help the residents.

“They could throw me in jail for life, but I’m 83, and if they do, it wouldn’t make much difference.”

OHA is governed by a five-member board, with members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council.

Issues can be reported online or by calling 1-800-347-3745.

An email from Poore to Traudt obtained by 6 News alleges Traudt did not obtain permission to be on the property and defied requests by the security team that he leave the property. OHA says Traudt has been banned and barred from OHA properties.

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