Family says mold exposure at Detroit’s Alden Towers left them sick, homeless, and ignored - Detroit Metro Times

A Detroit family's home turned into a toxic nightmare when severe mold contamination took hold at Alden Towers apartment complex. In October 2024, KaDeidra Copeland and her partner DaQuan Grantham moved into unit A210, bringing with them their infant. However, it soon became apparent that the apartment was infested with mildew.

Copeland would notice a strong smell whenever she visited the apartment, which she described as "stuffy." Her partner began to experience frequent and severe nosebleeds, prompting him to seek medical attention. The couple didn't know what was causing these symptoms until months later when one of their children nearly ingested a paint chip that had mold on it.

The air quality in the unit was hazardous, with Grantham stating that the mold had black dots on it and was found beneath air vents throughout the apartment. Maintenance workers came to the apartment but failed to address the issue properly. Initially, they told the couple that there wasn't any mold present, contradicting the findings of a later professional remediation company.

Lab results revealed Ascomycetes species, basidiomycetes species, and cladosporium species, common fungi associated with moisture intrusion and indoor mold growth. Grantham's symptoms worsened over time, including requiring emergency nasal surgery due to his inability to breathe out of one side of his nose.

Copeland also began to experience chronic hives and swelling near her eyes, necessitating the use of an EpiPen and steroids. She would often wake up itching and remains fearful of mold exposure anywhere she goes. The family's infant was also affected, waking up screaming and developing rashes, hives, and pink eye.

As their situation worsened, the couple repeatedly asked Alden Towers management for help but were ignored. They requested temporary relocation while the mold issue was addressed, which was denied. Audio recordings from the pair support these claims.

The family ultimately had to throw away nearly everything they owned due to fear that it was contaminated by mold. Grantham's ankle suffered an injury after he slipped on a staircase during their eviction in August 2025. The family's security deposit was never returned, leaving them without financial recourse.

The experience has left Copeland traumatized and changed her perception of housing and safety. She emphasizes that no one should have to endure such conditions, especially not with children present. Grantham is still trying to rebuild his life after the apartment fell apart.

The Alden Towers complex faces numerous complaints, including broken elevators, mold, flooding, overflowing trash, roach infestations, unsafe hallways, and a management company that tenants say is indifferent and punitive. The building was purchased by a company tied to Belfor Holdings Inc. in 2019, which has been cited six times for various violations since then.

The family's case highlights the need for adequate housing regulations and tenant protections. Residents have picketed outside the building and sought help from city officials, arguing that management has failed to address longstanding habitability issues. The situation at Alden Towers serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing public health and safety in affordable housing.
 
🚨 Mold alert: 1 in 5 households with severe mold infestation experience respiratory issues (30%!) 🤯 According to EPA data, homes with mold exposure show signs of chronic fatigue, headaches, and mental health problems 🤕 A family's nightmare at Alden Towers complex is a harsh reality check on the state of affordable housing in Detroit 🏠💔 The fact that management denied their request for temporary relocation due to mold makes me 💔😡 Anyone have tips on how to navigate such situations? 👀 Did you know that Belfor Holdings Inc. has been cited 6 times since purchasing the complex in 2019? 🚨 What's the estimated number of tenants affected by this ongoing crisis? 📊
 
It's just heartbreaking to think about this family's nightmare living situation 😩. It makes you wonder what it's like to be constantly on edge, worried that your home is going to turn into a toxic hellhole at any moment. I mean, can you imagine having to throw away everything you own because of something as simple as mold 🤯? And the fact that they were repeatedly ignored by management just adds to the trauma... it's like they were left to suffer in silence 💔.

But what really gets me is how this situation highlights the need for better tenant protections and housing regulations 📝. It's not just about individual families, it's about creating a system where people can feel safe and secure in their homes. We need to prioritize public health and safety, especially when it comes to affordable housing 🔒.

It also makes you think about the systemic issues that lead to situations like this... how do we ensure that buildings are being properly maintained and that management is held accountable? 🤔 And what can we do as a society to prevent this kind of trauma from happening to others? 💖
 
🚨 This is just horrific. I mean, can you even imagine having your home turned into a toxic nightmare like that? 😱 It's not just the mold itself, it's the complete disregard for the family's well-being by the management company. They're essentially saying "no" to help when they should be saying "yes" to making sure people aren't living in health hazzards. 🤯 The fact that they're still facing eviction and no financial recourse is just outrageous. It's like, what even is going on with these companies? Are they more interested in the benjamins than people's lives? 💸 This whole thing needs to be looked into ASAP and some serious changes need to be made to prevent this from happening to anyone else. 🚨
 
Mold infestations are a huge issue in substandard apartments 🤯💔. When landlords don't take care of basic maintenance, it puts lives at risk 🚨. This family's story is heartbreaking & should be a wake-up call for housing authorities to step up their game 👮
 
Man 😱 this is so messed up what's going on with these ppl? 🤯 I mean, you'd think it's basic to have some kinda system in place to check for mold & stuff but nope! 🚫 It's like they're just expecting people to live in a toxic nightmare and not do anything about it. 💔 And the worst part is, this family had an infant living there with them... can you even imagine? 😩 They should get some kinda serious compensation for what they've been through 🤑
 
I'm still shaking my head over this one 🤯😡 the whole thing is just disgusting. I mean, can you even imagine having to move out of your home because it's literally infested with mold? The fact that the management company didn't take it seriously and just told them there wasn't any mold present is just unbelievable 🙄.

And what about the family's security deposit? They had to throw away almost everything they owned and now they're left without financial recourse 💸. It's just not right. And the way Grantham was treated, slipping on a staircase during their eviction... it's just heartbreaking 😔.

I think this whole situation highlights just how broken our system is when it comes to housing regulations and tenant protections 🚧. We need to do better for people like this family who are struggling to make ends meet and just want a safe place to live 🏠.
 
OMG u guyz 🤯 I cant even imagine living in a place like that w/ mold everywhere!!! I mean i know we all go thru stuff but this is like waaay too much 😩 my heart goes out to DaQuan & KaDeidra their baby was almost sick and now its just traumatic 4 them n it sounds like the management was totaly neglectful they didnt even listen to their concerns 🙄 annd they denied them a relocation which is like so not fair 💔 I hope the city officials get involved & do somethin bout this bldg bc thats just not right 💪
 
Ugh this is so not fair 🤯 I feel so bad for that family 😔 Living in a toxic environment is like nothing you can imagine. My little niece has asthma and even with her meds she's always worried about mold and dust 😷 It's like they're neglecting their tenants' health and well-being completely. The fact that the management didn't believe them when they said there was mold and just kept denying everything is just ridiculous 🙄 And now the family gets to deal with the aftermath of all this... it's just not right 🤕
 
omg can you even imagine living like this?? i feel so bad for the family, especially the baby 🤕 they gotta throw away all their stuff because it's contaminated with mold and they can't get help from the management 🤦‍♀️ it's like, what kinda landlord lets a building fall into such disrepair? 😡 the fact that the maintenance workers were wrong about there not being any mold present is just crazy 🙄 and now they're left without their security deposit or financial recourse... ugh it's just not right 💔
 
🤕 I can only imagine how terrifying it must've been for this family to discover their home was literally a toxic nightmare 🌪️. It's heartbreaking that they were ignored by management despite repeatedly asking for help, leaving them with no choice but to evacuate their belongings 😩. The lack of action from management is appalling, especially considering the safety of children and pets involved 👶🐶.

This whole ordeal highlights the need for robust housing regulations and tenant protections 🏠💪. No one should have to endure such conditions, especially not with young families or vulnerable individuals present 🤝. It's a stark reminder that affordable housing is not just about affordability, but also about public health and safety 😷.

I'm so glad the family is seeking help from city officials and residents are standing up for their rights 🌟. We need to prioritize our communities' well-being and ensure that all tenants have access to safe, habitable living spaces 🏠💕.
 
Wow 💔🏠 this is so sad, people can't even live in their own homes without getting sick or being traumatized. What's going on with these buildings? Can't they just clean it up properly? It's not that hard. And the fact that the management didn't care and just ignored them is just horrible 😤. This family had to throw everything away because of mold, can you even imagine? 🤯
 
omg can u believe this fams story?! 🤯 they went through so much cuz of mold in their apartment its heartbreaking to think about how long it took for them 2 get help & even then its like management just ignored them 🙄 Alden Towers gotta step up their game & prioritize tenant safety 4 real! the fact that they had 2 throw away everything cuz of fear of contamination is wild 🤯 & Grantham's injuries r a whole other level of scary 😷 anyway i hope this fam gets back on their feet & finds a new place with better air quality ❤️
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this story 🤯. I mean, can you believe they lived like that for months? It's crazy to think about how scared Copeland must have been when she found out her home was literally turning into a toxic nightmare 🌪️. And poor DaQuan, those nosebleeds must have been so terrifying 😓. I'm still in awe of the fact that they almost had to get rid of everything because of mold - can you even imagine having to do that? It's like, what happened to their sense of security and safety? 😩 The system failed them, big time. And now they're struggling to rebuild their lives 🤕. This story just makes me wanna advocate for better housing regulations ASAP 💪🌎
 
🤕 Can you believe what happened to this family? I mean, they're living in their own home and it's like an entire toxic nightmare! I'm so sorry they had to go through that. It's not just about them though, it's a whole bigger picture thing. We need better housing regulations and more support for tenants who are being screwed over by bad management. I mean, six times the building has been cited for violations? That's crazy! And the fact that this family was denied their security deposit because of the mold situation is just outrageous 🚫. It's like they're not even human beings anymore, just statistics or something. We need to do better by our fellow citizens and make sure everyone has access to safe and healthy housing. 💔
 
Ugh 🙄, I mean, can you even imagine having to deal with a toxic nightmare like this? It's just heartbreaking that they had to go through so much stress and trauma because of some neglectful management. I'm still fuming thinking about the fact that they were told there wasn't any mold present... what if it was a case of willful ignorance or something? 🤔 The family's story is definitely making me think twice about renting in areas with, ahem, questionable property managers 😬
 
omg u cant believe dis 😱 what's goin on wit dis apartment complex?! 1st they got mold, den dey deny it, den dey dont fix it... sounds like total neglect 🤦‍♀️. And da worst part is dey didnt do nothin about it 'til one of da kids got sick 🤢. I mean, i get that mistakes happen, but dis is just ridiculous 💁‍♀️. Alden Towers gotta step up their game & take responsibility for da lives of dere tenants 👊. Its time 4 some real change in dis city...
 
🤯 Can't believe how many people are getting affected by mold just like this family! It's crazy that the management company is more concerned with their profits than their tenants' well-being. 🤑 The government needs to step in and make some changes, like increasing funding for maintenance and repairs or implementing stricter regulations on landlords.

I'm so sorry for this family, they went through hell. 😩 The fact that they had to throw away everything they owned because of mold is just heartbreaking. And the poor baby who got sick... 🤕 it's all just too much. We need better housing options and more support for people in need.

The building has a lot of issues, like broken elevators and roaches, but at least that's something that can be fixed by the management company. But mold is a serious health hazard, we need to take it seriously. 🚧 I hope this family gets some justice and the management company is held accountable for their actions.

This whole situation is just so frustrating, especially since they asked for help multiple times but were ignored. 😤 It's like they're disposable or something. We need more accountability and less bureaucracy. 👎 The city officials should be ashamed of themselves for not doing anything to help this family sooner.

I'm all for picketing outside the building and demanding change. 🚫 We need to make our voices heard and stand up for what we believe in. This is just a classic case of corporate greed vs public health, and I'm so tired of it. 😤
 
Can't believe what's going on at Alden Towers 🤯. I mean, it's like they're playing with people's lives over here. A family moves in with a tiny baby, and then BAM! The apartment is infested with mold. It's not just about the health effects on the family; it's about the fact that management knew or should've known about this issue but did nothing to fix it 🚫. I'm talking about proper maintenance, addressing the problem ASAP, and being transparent about what's going on. Instead, the family is left high and dry, struggling to breathe, and facing eviction. And for what? So management can keep their job? It's just not right 😡.
 
🚨 Can't believe what's happening here! I mean, I've seen some crazy stories on this site before but this one takes the cake 🍞️. A family moves into their new apartment and it's like a war zone in there - toxic mold everywhere! The fact that maintenance workers came in and said there was no mold when there clearly is just insane 🤯. And now they're being forced out of their own home because they can't breathe? 😷 What kind of system allows this to happen?! We need to be holding our housing authorities accountable for these kinds of issues ASAP! 💪
 
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