9 Investigates: Sen. Rubio calls Windsor Cove owners ‘slumlords'

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is calling for reform in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development after touring a Jacksonville apartment complex.
 
Global Ministries Foundation, the company that owns the complex in Jacksonville, also owns the Windsor Cove Apartments, which Channel 9 has been covering for years.
 
Code enforcement told 9 Investigates that complaints are down and Windsor Cove isn't facing fines for outstanding issues, but residents said the outside looks a lot better than inside some apartments.
 
One resident showed Channel 9 reporter Karla Ray remnants of holes where she said roaches and rodents still force their way into her home.

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The woman said there's a gap between her bathtub and the wall that lets water leak into the apartment below.
 
9 Investigates learned Global Ministries Foundation receives millions of HUD tax dollars to subsidize rent. Rev. Richard Hamlet, the CEO of the foundation, makes nearly $500,000 a year.
 
"I think they're slumlords. This is an organization that has these problems all over the country," Rubio said.
 
Rubio told 9 Investigates he intends to request a Justice Department investigation into the company's finances.
 
"Where's all the money going?  Factored into the money they receive for Section 8 and from HUD is the upkeep of these buildings," Rubio said.
 
Ending HUD's contracts with GMF could bring more problems. When that happened in Memphis, officials had to move families who otherwise would have been out on the street.
 
GMF told Channel 9 a lot of work has been done, but a third-party management company is responsible for the maintenance at Windsor Cove.
 
GMF said that it plans to spend $2 million to improve the Jacksonville property and that the complex continues to pass inspections.

GMF said in a statement:

GMF-Preservation of Affordability Corp. (GMF) is working proactively with the

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to restore Eureka Gardens. Problems were identified and are being corrected. GMF provides a weekly restoration progress report to HUD and all active interior and exterior work at Eureka is on track to be completed on schedule.

GMF has invested approximately $1 million to date, and will ultimately spend approximately $2 million in restoration of Eureka Gardens and has drastically accelerated the 10-year restoration plan developed at the time of purchase of the property three years ago. GMF is continuing to invest heavily in Eureka by restoring its critical infrastructure.

Specific restoration progress includes replacement or extensive repair of exterior stair cases, which is on-going, and remediation of water damage and mold in all units where indoor air quality did not equal or exceed outdoor air quality and mold was detected. All mold remediation is now complete and minor reconstruction of the last sets of remediated units will be completed in May. In addition, all issues raised by City inspectors pertaining to the interiors of the units have been corrected. With the exception of on-going construction for replacement of some of the exterior staircases, the property is now in compliance with City of Jacksonville municipal code.

The tremendous progress GMF has made, rarely mentioned by government officials and the media, must be put in its proper historical context. Eureka Gardens did not evolve into a problem property overnight, rather it has been a perennial burden to the City of Jacksonville for decades. Unfortunately, state and local government and community leaders largely ignored Eureka and allowed it to suffer decades of decay under previous ownership.

In recent years, the federal government has looked to faith-based organizations (FBOs) to play a leading role in revitalizing communities since FBOs are frequently the strongest institutions in disadvantaged communities. Like many FBOs around the nation, GMF has answered the call to service by investing in affordable housing for low and moderate income citizens.

By working with local partners, GMF offers each housing community many services based on location and resident needs. All services are provided at no cost to Eureka Garden residents and are completely voluntary. They include housekeeping skills training, workforce preparation and training, personal finance education, computer classes, after school childcare and education, dental and medical services, meals and clothing.

Because we are fully committed to our partnership with HUD and the communities we serve together, GMF is marketing Eureka and seeking a new owner who is willing and able to continue to rehabilitate the property for the benefit of the residents and the neighboring community. We will work closely with HUD to obtain necessary HUD approvals for the transfer of ownership, and HUD has committed to work with us on that process. We believe that this is all positive for GMF and its ongoing mission.

Cox Media Group