HOUSTON – A Houston apartment complex off of Cullen Boulevard is under fire after residents raised alarming concerns about their living conditions — with some saying they’d rather stay in a shelter than remain in their current units.
Residents at Cullen Park Apartments say they’ve been living with rats, maggots, mold, and no working air conditioning — and they claim complaints to property management, the City of Houston, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have gone unanswered.
“They don’t fix anything until it’s too late”
Michele Williams, who receives housing assistance through a federal HUD program, has lived at Cullen Park for five years. She says the experience has been nothing short of a nightmare.
“My stove doesn’t work. My refrigerator doesn’t close. I’ve killed 26 rats inside my apartment,” Williams said.
Most recently, her daughter’s bedroom has been flooded due to a leak — soaking the carpet for over three weeks. The resulting mold and maggots have made the room unlivable.
“A city inspector just had maggots cleaned out of the carpet,” she said.
Conditions so bad, residents are warned not to talk
When our crew visited the complex, we were met with a loudspeaker blaring messages from management — issuing warnings to residents about picking up trash, speaking with reporters or sharing issues on social media. Still, several residents flagged us down, desperate to share their experiences.
One man said his unit has had leaks and mold for almost two years.
“It’s wrong to allow people to live like this,” he said. “I just want them to help us the right way.”
Silence from management, limited options from HUD
We knocked on the apartment office door, but though staff were visible inside, no one responded. Williams says when she contacted a HUD representative earlier that day, she was told she could be moved to another unit in the same complex — an option she rejected.
“Why would I want to stay in the same conditions, just in a different unit?” she asked. “If I have to pack up my things, put them in storage and stay at a shelter, I will. That’s better than living with maggots and rats.”
Citations issued by the city
Later that day, the City of Houston’s Department of Neighborhoods arrived and issued two citations to Cullen Park Apartments — one for excessive trash, and another for rodent infestations. The owners now have up to 10 days to resolve both violations.
Still waiting on answers
We reached out to the Houston HUD Field Office to confirm whether the complex is currently in compliance with federal housing standards. As of publication, we are still waiting to hear back.
Have a housing issue to report? Contact the 2 Helps You Helpdesk.
