A Southwest Portland family that alleges it was sickened by toxic mold is being evicted from their home.
Tyler Jones and his family moved into a rental home on Southwest Plum Street on July 6, 2011 after signing a one year lease.
Jones said the day he moved in, a neighbor started telling him about the rat and mold problems in the home, but he found out soon enough on his own.
His brother-in-law Mark Paluck, who already has health problems, started coughing up blood, and the three other residents became ill, showing signs of lethargy and headaches.
In August, Jones started noticing and documenting the mold in the home and complained to the landlords, Jay and Robin Bodner.
When KOIN Local 6 crews arrived at Jones’ home Tuesday afternoon for the interview, there was a fresh rat caught in a trap in the backyard.
Jones and Paluck showed KOIN a second dead rat and several samples of fungus, mold, particle board and mold-soiled insulation they have collected as evidence over the past few months.
Jones and his wife have kept meticulous notes, providing copies of hundreds of pages of documents about their complaints, mold testing and doctors visits.
“Toxic mold can kill you, we have a cousin who died from it,” Jones said.
The family has been paying for attorney’s fees and expensive mold testing, and can’t afford to move and start over, especially so close to the holidays.
“I’ve been unemployed recently, and just went on a job interview yesterday,” Jones said.
The Community Alliance of Tenants has been helping Jones and his family know their rights.
Jones said when they moved in the home looked clean, claiming that at their first walk through they never would have guessed the mold and rats were there.
Jones said he and Robin Bodner worked out an agreement to exchange rent for major maintenance work around the property. However, in October the family was served an eviction notice for non-payment of rent.
Jones fought the eviction in court and won on a technicality because the notice had been served too soon, but has since discovered that they are still being evicted and have to be out by Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Jones said he hopes others can learn from his mistake.
“We want people to know to be careful when looking at a new place. And do your research before you move in,” Jones said.
Phone calls to the landlord were not returned.
If you have been in a similar situation, or can help the Jones family, contact them at:
Jnwllms49@gmail.com.
