LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Residents of Dosker Manor continue to endure deplorable living conditions and are pleading for relief from the Louisville Metro Housing Authority.

Months after reports of bed bugs, mold, mice, maggots and other problems at the public housing, people who live at Dosker Manor said very little has been accomplished.

Scaffolding is currently visible outside Building A at the apartments on Muhammad Ali Boulevard, there to protect people from getting hit by concrete that has been falling from the building.

Conditions inside are even worse. Christina Watkins calls the complex "disgusting, absolutely the worst place we have ever lived." She said the stench in the hallways from rotting garbage often smells like a dead body. She said it's not unusual to find the common areas of Dosker Manor used as a toilet.

"You can find human feces on the walls," Watkins said. "There's urine and human feces down the stairwells. You find them in the elevator sometimes too, outside. ... It's ridiculous. The smell of the trash, it smells like a dead body."

Feces at Dosker Manor

Pictured: this image dated Aug. 23, 2023, shows what residents are calling flattened feces at Dosker Manor at 413 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd., near downtown Louisville, Ky. (WDRB image)

WDRB News captured what appeared to be feces in a stairwell during our last visit in August. Now, nearly two months later, Watkins said they're battling mice.

"I have to have cereal containers," Watkins said. "You have to put everything in a container, because if you don't, you're liable to get bugs or something in it."

Watkins also said she has already battled a bed bug infestation last year and is afraid to buy a new bed frame because it feels like bed bugs never really go away at Dosker Manor. 

"You could ride the elevator with people and see them crawling on them," Watkins said. 

That's if the elevator in the more than 10-story building is working. Residents told WDRB the elevator was out of order Friday, trapping residents with limited mobility on upper floors with no way to leave. WDRB crews noticed Tuesday the doors appeared to be jamming. 

"Yeah, that happens every day," Watkins said. 

A few hours later, Watkins said that elevator went completely down and hadn't been fixed come Wednesday morning.

Watkins doesn't blame the on-property Dosker Manor staff for the issues.

"I do not blame the ladies in the office here. I do not blame the maintenance men," she said. "I blame the main office, because they are not giving these people the priority money they need and the equipment and everything they need to take care of these buildings." 

That's one reason why Watkins and other frustrated tenants showed up Tuesday afternoon for LMHA's board meeting to again demand change. 

Dosker Manor resident Samantha Morris

Pictured: Dosker Manor resident Samantha Morris speaks at a Louisville Metro Housing authority meeting to discuss living conditions at the apartment community on Oct. 17, 2023. (WDRB image)

Samantha Morris, who said she has lived at Dosker Manor for nearly four years, sounded off at Tuesday's meeting. 

"The roaches beat you to your meal," Morris said. "The mouse is probably in your refrigerator, jumping out your toilet. Who wants to live that way?"

Morris said she has never been late with her rent but has not been granted permission to move to another place after two years of trying. 

City leaders weren't at the meeting to hear the complaints. They attended virtually via Zoom, something some residents found disrespectful. 

Mayor Craig Greenberg asked his chief of staff to get LMHA Executive Director Lisa Osanka to explain what happened with the elevators Friday. During her explanation, residents tried to interrupt her to say she wasn't telling the truth about how long the elevators were down. But the Zoom mic for the room the residents were in was muted.

"It is under temporary fix. They have been operating all week," Osanka said. "A permanent fix is scheduled to occur Thursday."

Several residents shouted "It's down right now!" as Osanka finished speaking. 

WDRB showed up at LMHA headquarters Tuesday afternoon to get some answers. Osanka had the receptionist say she would respond via email. She didn't answer the question about funding and instead shared details about how residents should file work orders, saying in her written response: 

"They need to put somebody in there who's actually going to care and let the residents tell them 'Hey, this is what we need,'" Watkins said. "And then go from there."

A change of power is coming though. Amid calls for her to be fired, Osanka got special permission to retire early from the position last month. She is expected to stay in the role until her replacement is found. 

"Just because you're on a limited income does not mean you don't have the right to have an absolutely working apartment, a nice place to live," Watkins said. "This is absolutely disgusting, absolutely 100% disgusting."

The application period for the next executive director closed Tuesday, and the mayor's office is now reviewing all candidates.

Many residents said they want to move out or transfer but said there's not many affordable housing options available.

Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, District 1, was also at the board meeting and said she hopes to have LMHA answer to Metro Council's government accountability board.

"We're not just talking about a regular landlord," Hawkins said. "You know these units should be safe and healthy. They shouldn't be under these conditions. That's the biggest concern. Don't wait until it hits your family member before you want to take action."

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