WARREN — Progress on addressing ongoing housing issues at the Stonegate Apartments remains slow, but residents and community legal aid advocates say they are cautiously optimistic as they explore potential solutions, including exploring the possibility of receivership.

At a community meeting Thursday, Ryan Maxwell, managing attorney with Community Legal Aid, and Warren-based Amber McCollum, an attorney with CLA, provided updates on their efforts to address concerns at the property, which has been plagued by maintenance issues, code violations and a recent fire that displaced several residents.

McCollum detailed the steps her team has taken since the last meeting, including submitting public records requests to city departments and a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“We’ve requested inspection reports, code violations, citations, and other documents to better understand the situation,” McCollum said. “We’re also exploring the possibility of a receivership, which would allow tenants to petition the court to appoint a receiver to manage the property and oversee necessary repairs.”

A receivership would involve tenants as plaintiffs in a legal action, with the court appointing a receiver to take over management of the property. The receiver would assess repair needs, develop a plan and ensure the work is completed.

McCollum said that the goal is to preserve the property’s HUD subsidy, which helps keep rents affordable for residents.

Maxwell added that the team has been in contact with a potential receiver and is awaiting responses to their records requests.

“We’re in the early stages, but we’re moving forward,” he said. “Our priority is to keep everyone housed and ensure the property is brought up to code.”

Warren City Council President John Brown, spoke with several people at the meeting. “It’s heartbreaking to see families living in these conditions,” Brown said. “They’re trapped in a cycle where they’re being taken advantage of, and it’s hard for them to get out. We’re working with legal aid and other organizations to find avenues to help, but it’s a complex problem that won’t be solved overnight.”

Several residents at the meeting said they expected a slow pace toward progress.

Many acknowledged that the process is complex but voiced frustration with the lack of immediate action.

Others expressed disappointment by the small turnout at the meeting, though they understood the challenges, including people fearing retaliation if they speak out.

Maxwell noted that the team is working to address these issues but acknowledged the challenges.

“We’re doing everything we can to hold the owner accountable and ensure the property is safe and habitable,” he said. “But it’s going to take time.”

Residents expressed frustration with the slow pace of progress but acknowledged that the process is inherently time-consuming.

“It’s slow, but it’s what we expected,” said Beth Rauschenbach, a resident of the complex. “If you know anything about how these systems work, you know it’s bound to take time. I think that’s why a lot of people give up because it’s such a slow process. But we’re not giving up.” Nicole Kuhn, another resident, echoed Rauschenbach’s sentiments.

“I’m disappointed with how long it’s taking, but I understand why it’s slow. These things don’t happen overnight,” she said. “What’s frustrating is seeing people complain but not show up to meetings or take action. If we don’t come together as a community, nothing will change.”

Cassie Ohl, another resident, also said she was disappointed with the turnout but understood to some degree.

“People are scared to stand up because they’re afraid of retaliation. We live under the owner’s rule, and most of us don’t have anywhere else to go. It’s a rough situation,” she said.

Kuhn also shared her frustration with the utility checks provided by management.

“They gave us utility checks, but you can’t cash them. They said the amount was less than what we should have gotten, but they won’t explain how they calculated it,” she said. “I offered to pay what they said I owed, but they didn’t want my money. It’s all a mess.”

Rauschenbach added that the property’s management has been inconsistent and unresponsive. “We’ve had so many managers come and go. None of them stay long enough to fix anything,” she said. “They’re more worried about flipping vacant apartments than taking care of the tenants who are already here.”

For now, residents are holding onto hope. “It’s a tough situation, but we’re not giving up,” Kuhn said. “We deserve better.”

Despite the frustrations, residents and advocates remain committed to finding solutions. McCollum encouraged tenants to stay engaged and reach out for legal assistance if needed. “We’re here to help,” she said. “We’ll keep pushing for answers and working to make sure everyone gets the support they need.”

The legal team said they plan to hold another meeting in the coming weeks, hoping to provide more concrete updates as they receive responses to their records requests and continue exploring the receivership option.