Cedar Glen residents frustrated after second Christmas without hot water

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - For the second Christmas in a row, some Cedar Glen Apartment residents are frustrated over the lack of hot water in their homes. 

Following reports from February 2023, residents reported a loss of heat and hot water for months, forcing them to boil water in order to bathe, cook and clean. 

The problem with old boilers was allegedly fixed and the apartment received new management. 

Now, the problem arises again, with some residents stating there's a lack of heat in their unit and others, a lack of hot water. 

For resident Todd Bogunia, it feels like he's been living the same nightmare since September. 

"We had to wait a month for that to get fixed and now apparently the part that they fixed, [is] now broken," said Bogunia. "Here we are in the middle of November, [and now] two Christmases, without hot water."

Bogunia says this has happened twice in the same building and the other side is now out of hot water as well. 

Resident Raynard Wilson finds it hard to have people over for the holidays because no one wants to visit his home in the conditions he lives in. 

"Nobody wants to come visit because nobody wants to come in this cold apartment," he said. 

According to the U.S. Housing Department and Urban Development, landlords are obligated to provide a heating and electrical system in working condition to rental units, which Cedar Glen residents are living without, while still paying the same amount of rent. 

Some residents were given space heaters to address the problem, but frustrations continue over the lengthy repair time and frequency of reoccurring issue. 

Residents say the property management company tells them they're waiting on a part to fix the problem, but management was unable to comment. 

ABC57 reached out to Barrett and Stokely Management Company, as well as the city of South Bend, for comment, but neither was available.