In Charleston, South Carolina, one mother is raising her voice about the unhealthy and neglected conditions at her apartment complex. Jasmine Alexander, a resident of Ashley Arms Apartments in West Ashley, says she has been living with serious issues for years, and nothing seems to change despite repeated complaints.
Years of Struggles in Ashley Arms
Jasmine Alexander has lived at Ashley Arms Apartments, located off Highway 61, for the past four years. Since moving in, she says the problems started almost immediately. “I moved in here, and I want to say about a week later, I immediately had issues,” she shared.
In these four years, she has been forced to change apartments within the same complex three times. She has also seen at least five different property managers come and go, but her living conditions have remained poor.
Mold Issues and Health Concerns
One of the biggest problems Alexander and her family have faced is mold. According to her, the mold started in her son’s closet and quickly spread throughout the unit—reaching the bedroom, bathroom, hallway, and even the ventilation system.
In her current apartment, black mold is clearly visible on the bathroom ceiling just above the shower. Alexander says it’s been affecting her children’s health. “She has been to more emergency departments in the last four years than in her whole life. And she’s 11,” she said, referring to her daughter.
Maintenance Delays and Financial Struggles
On Father’s Day, Alexander’s refrigerator stopped working. She says she reported it right away, but almost a month later, no one had come to fix it.
“They said I had a work order out and somebody was supposed to come out the next day, and nobody showed up,” she explained.
Because of the broken fridge, she had to throw away large amounts of food bought with food stamps. Since she buys in bulk once a month to save money, losing all her food was a major setback. “I lost everything,” she said.
Management Responds—But Is It Too Late?
While local news station News 4 was visiting her apartment on Friday, a maintenance technician and a new property manager finally showed up. They looked at the broken fridge and the mold in the bathroom and promised action would be taken.
Alexander hopes that by speaking out, changes will finally come—not just for her, but for other residents as well. “I’m tired of being blamed for stuff,” she said. “You can’t even take care of the necessities for me to survive, for me and my kids to survive.”
What Happens Next?
Jasmine receives housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which helps low-income families afford housing. However, she feels that even with this support, she’s not getting the safe and healthy living environment she deserves.
News 4 contacted HUD and Beacon Property Services LLC., the company that manages Ashley Arms Apartments, but has not received any response yet.
The situation at Ashley Arms Apartments shines a light on a growing issue many low-income families face: poor living conditions, slow maintenance, and a lack of accountability from property managers. Jasmine Alexander’s story is not just about mold and a broken fridge—it’s about the daily struggle to keep her children safe and healthy. Her voice represents many who face similar conditions in silence. Now, with public attention and media coverage, she hopes real change is finally on the way.
