WARREN Mold in home drives out family

A black mold streaks the walls and lines the ceiling of a bedroom and the kitchen.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Jackson Street family is anticipating a gloomy Christmas after the house they've been renting was condemned because of mold.
Jacqueline Fitzpatrick and William Matlock and Fitzpatrick's three children, ages 12, 11 and 9, moved into the house in October. About a month later, they noticed black mold along the walls and ceiling of the largest bedroom and in the kitchen.
Robert Pinti, deputy city health commissioner, said the family contacted the department Tuesday afternoon. Health officials inspected it Thursday and condemned the house.
"There was a tremendous amount of mold in the house," Pinti said.
Black mold creeps up the kitchen and bedroom walls, and mold and what appears like large water droplets are on the bedroom ceiling.
Mold samples were collected by Trumbull County Health Department representatives and sent for testing.
"Our main concern was getting the people out," Pinti said. "So many of these molds affect children more so than a healthy adult."
Symptoms noted
Fitzpatrick and Matlock say they and the children have experienced headaches, burning eyes and chest pains since moving into the home. They've been to the doctor and are awaiting test results, they said.
Normally, when a house is condemned, its residents have 30 days to vacate the property.
"With this type of situation, we'd like them to get out immediately," Pinti said, pointing to possible health problems.
That leaves the family looking for another place to live. They're staying with Matlock's mother, Carol, and his sister for the time being. Fitzpatrick said the owner of the house, Michael Corso, offered to provide another one of his homes or a hotel room for them to live in.
Corso couldn't be reached to comment.
"I don't want to live in another one of his houses," Fitzpatrick said. "All of his houses are alike."
They may take him up on the hotel room offer, however, she said.
"They're packing up what they can today and will probably get up early to hopefully get the rest of it," Carol Matlock said.
She's irritated that the city doesn't inspect rental properties. Pinti said the department inspects a house within a few days if a tenant makes a complaint but doesn't do routine inspections.
dick@vindy.com