LAFAYETTE, La. ( KLFY )– On Wednesday, Himbola Manor Apartments continued mandatory inspections that started Tuesday .

Himbola resident Ashanti Dugas told News 10 about the unresolved maintenance issues in her unit.

“I’d rather be homeless than to live there,” Dugas said.

Dugas and her two toddlers have been living at Himbola for the past two years, experiencing mold, broken plumbing and holes in the floor.

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She said she missed her apartment inspection because she was at the hospital with her children, who are sick because of the mold in her apartment.

“It’s really frustrating being back and forth to the hospital, not knowing what’s going on until I was like, ‘Wait, you know what? It’s the mold.'” Dugas said. “Because when I was living in Beaumont, I never had problems with my kids, with the coughing, with the wheezing or none of that. I moved here two years ago. It’s bad.”

Another problem she deals with is backed up plumbing from her toilet spilling into her shower, causing her to drive to her grandmother’s in Carencro anytime her and her children need to use the restroom or shower.

“I don’t think that’s sanitary. Nobody should live like that at all,” Dugas said. “And then I’m pregnant, so I have to constantly go to the restroom. It’s very frustrating. I hate to deal with it. I really do.”

Dugas was recently charged about $900 in damages, including the cost of a new toilet.

A video she sent News 10 today shows she is still dealing with plumbing issues, a hole in the floor and mold.

Dugas’ grandmother has sent multiple complaints to management and different organizations asking for help.

“I hope it gets done. I’m not afraid, and I’m really speaking for a lot of tenants that are scared, that are going to get evicted or anything,” Dugas said. “Because, like I said, I’m not scared. We shouldn’t be quiet and living the way we live at all. I don’t care. I understand it’s low income, but nobody should live like that.”

Residents expect to see repairs start once inspections are over.

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