Tenants at New Harbor Condominium complex fed up with living conditions

BENTON HARBOR, Mich – Tenants at the New Harbor Condominium complex in Benton Harbor are speaking out about their living conditions.

“I just turned 57 and I’m good right now because the Lord still blesses me but I don’t know how much longer I can take it,” New Harbor resident Cordelle Price said.

Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad held a press conference Thursday evening at the complex to draw attention to the issue.

Many residents said they are living with-out the basic necessities.

“We have no water and it’s been going on at least a year and a half,” New Harbor resident Phillip McCallion said.

New Harbor is a condominium complex so there are multiple individual owners of the units that many low income residents pay their rent to.

Multiple owners now or were in the past behind on taxes and bills which causes interruption in their utility services.

“As we can see the residents of Benton Harbor here are living in squalor, it’s deplorable, and it’s really a state of emergency,” Mayor Muhammad said.

The city under the leadership of Mayor Muhammad said they would like to see more housing in the city, specifically affordable housing.

Legal Aid of Western Michigan said they’re aware of the living conditions at New Harbor and there’s ongoing action being taken.