YWCA Sojourner's shelter clients reportedly affected by mold; repairs underway

The Sojourner’s Shelter building, 1418 Washington St. E., is owned by the city of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. The YWCA leases the building for free in return for providing the shelter.

Under the lease, the city is responsible for several maintenance issues such as structural repairs, capital improvements, exterior surfaces and parking lots. The YWCA is responsible for routine maintenance, including plumbing problems, interior walls and appliances.

The roof at the YWCA has been an issue for a while, said Matthew Sutton, chief of staff for ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. In February, city officials were told they would be spending more money on patching than if they just replaced the roof.

New issues

Hairston, who became CEO in January, said she informed the city of the issues as soon as they were brought to her attention. Sutton said it was when Hairston took over that the city first became aware of “bigger issues.�

“We hadn’t really heard from the [YWCA] much, six, eight months before that, about any issues,� he said.

City officials took a tour of Sojourner’s in April and began to work on a plan to address the issues related to the roof. Sutton said a mold test from March also indicated there was no dangerous mold.

“The summary is the mold is not too bad at all, but the overall cleanliness of the facilities is dismal,� City Manager Ben Mishoe wrote in an email obtained through a FOIA request.

'Health Hazards'

On July 1, Hairston sent Goodwin an email with a subject line that included “Health Hazards� at Sojourner's.

In the email, Hairston said she was grateful for the assessments but that the situation needed immediate follow-up.

“One of our staff members resigned this morning, citing ongoing illness caused by the mold in the building. Over the past six months, these issues have only worsened, and with the increase in rainfall, the risk to the health and safety of our staff and the vulnerable women, children, and families we serve is escalating daily,� Hairston wrote. “HR is recommending a mold assessment for worker's compensation and clients are now going to WV Health Right regarding medical care resulting for mold exposure.�

After online publication of this report Monday, Hairston said the staff member resigned for personal reasons, not because of mold.

Mishoe said there had been a delay from his office but that the roof replacement bid process had begun with a bidding window closing on July 24.

Leaky showers

According to Mishoe’s email, Mullen Plumbing of South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä inspected the showers and found that they had been leaking for some time.

“They believe the moisture issues in the building and walls are likely related more to this maintenance issue than the roof itself. Mullens said the damage to the basement, caused by leaking showers and/or toilets, is also extensive,� Mishoe wrote.

In a July 9 email to city officials, Hairston wrote that she was preparing for the possibility that Sojourner’s would be closed temporarily and asked for the city’s help in finding a place to serve its clients — at the time, 40 women, one man and eight children.

Mishoe received a quote from Mullen to repair three bathrooms for around $52,000. Mishoe said he believed the situation was an emergency, and therefore, under state law, a competitive bidding process wasn’t needed. However, he was working to obtain a second quote to make sure the Mullen quote was reasonable.

Mishoe wrote that Mullen told him the mold and rotting wood were “almost certainly� caused by the leaking showers.

“What is clear from my meeting with Mullen is that much of this damage could have been avoided or greatly reduced with regular and routine repairs and maintenance at the facility as anticipated in our Lease to be performed by the YWCA,� Mishoe wrote.

Impact of mold

On July 15, Hairston emailed city officials that a mold test revealed there was "no airborne black mold and no conditions requiring the removal of residents" during the repairs.

In an email to the Gazette-Mail, Hairston said she’s heard that “a few individuals may have experienced mild irritation or allergic reactions potentially related to environmental sensitivities or contact. These have not involved any confirmed or documented medical diagnoses shared with us.�

Hairston said there were unconfirmed reports that up to two people might have sought medical attention related to the mold.

Repairs

As of Monday, Mullen had already completed repairs in the women’s bathroom, including sealing leaks, replacing fixtures and repairing subflooring, according to Hairston. Repairs in the men’s and handicap-accessible bathrooms are ongoing.

Once bathroom repairs are complete, there will be “targeted mold remediation in impacted areas,� Hairston wrote. Sojourner’s is restricting access to visibly affected areas.

There are currently 36 adults and eight children at Sojourner’s.

“Their health, safety, and dignity are our highest priorities, and we are committed to resolving these concerns with transparency, urgency, and care,� Hairston said.

The bidding process for the roof is ongoing. If the process goes to plan, the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä City Council is expected to approve the expense at its Aug. 4 meeting.

“The Sojourner’s program is an absolute necessity in our city, there’s just no doubt about it,� Sutton said. “Sometimes ... a little bit lack of oversight ... can cause some issues, but I think they've really got focused on their buildings and their facilities now.�