Residents of a Cleveland apartment complex are struggling to stay warm, with some units feeling as cold as the frigid outdoors.
“I’ve been running the stove and oven just to keep warm. Even my fish died because of the cold—it’s unbearable,” said Lovell Norfleet, a tenant who moved into the building in June.
Norfleet shared notices from Euclid Estates management about an electrical issue that began last week, disrupting lighting and leaving 45 units without adequate heat. However, he claims that some units, including his, have been without heat throughout the entire winter.
“Please, can someone come and fix the heat? I know I’m not the only one suffering,” Norfleet said.
Unable to endure the freezing temperatures, Norfleet has spent most of the winter staying with his mother. When local reporters measured the temperature in his apartment with a heat gun, readings hovered in the 30s—despite the thermostat being set at 62 degrees.
Norfleet said he repeatedly raised the issue with management but was told the delay stemmed from waiting on a replacement part.
When reporters visited the on-site office to seek answers, a staff member confirmed efforts were underway to address the problem.
“We talked with our HVAC specialist today, and we’re working on those issues,” the staffer said.
While the staff member could not explain why some residents have been without heat for months, she insisted the repairs would be completed in a matter of weeks.
When pressed further about the one-to-two-week timeline, she reiterated her confidence that the issue would soon be resolved.
Meanwhile, tenants like Norfleet continue to endure unlivable conditions as they wait for relief.