Missouri AG Investigating Poor Housing Conditions In Saint Louis

ST. LOUIS, MO — Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is investigating the Clinton Peabody public housing complex in St. Louis' Near Southside neighborhood, where tenants have complained of mice and other poor conditions for months. The conditions in the complex may violate state consumer protection laws, the AG's office said Wednesday.

The Associated Press reports the state of Missouri has issued a civil investigative demand to the St. Louis Housing Authority, which manages the Clinton Peabody complex. The demand is functionally equivalent to a subpoena.

The St. Louis Health Department cited the Housing Authority for multiple violations earlier this year after a report by KPLR St. Louis exposed some of the problems facing more than 300 tenants living in the Clinton Peabody complex. But, tenants say little has improved since then, despite the Housing Authority resorting to bringing in feral cats — yes, feral cats — to solve the mice problem.

No word on how the Housing Authority plans to deal with the feral cat problem.

Hawley said his office is standing up for residents who don't have the power to stand up for themselves. “If these allegations are true, this must be fixed," he said. "No Missourian should have to live in an uninhabitable environment.”

Earlier this year, Missouri forfeited up to $600,000 in federal housing aid after Gov. Eric Greitens signed a bill amending the Missouri Human Rights Act to make it harder for individuals to sue landlords for discrimination.

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