Mold Forces Families Out Of Homes - Families Demand Answers From Home Builders

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KCRA

Tuesday January 09 02:00 AM EST

Mold Forces Families Out Of Homes

Families Demand Answers From Home Builders

Dozens of families in Dixon say that flaws in the foundations of their homes

have allowed potentially toxic mold to creep into their lives and chase them

out of their homes, and those families are demanding answers from the

company that built the homes.

Dave and Candy Flanigan just want to get back into their house in Dixon, as

does their 2-year-old daughter, . But they do not want to risk their

health in the process.

The Flanigans were among a group of about a dozen residents of a Kaufman &

Broad housing tract in Dixon who picketed a company sales office Sunday on

Drive in Vacaville. They all expressed deep concerns about

moisture penetration on the foundations of their Dixon homes that has led,

they say, to family illnesses and damage to their $200,000-plus structures.

" We haven't been able to go back to our house for two months now, " Candy

Flanigan said. " They said it would only take three weeks to fix. "

The Flanigans have been staying in the Marriott Residence Inn at Kaufman &

Broad's expense while their home has undergone tests and repairs.

" We had to get out on Nov. 20, " Flanigan said. " At first, they said

that there was no mold after tests. Then they said that there was 'minimal

mold', about like what is in our back yard. But we don't live in our back

yard. "

The Flanigans bought their house five years ago when it was a new

development in Dixon, just north of Interstate 80 and south of Pitt School

Road. Their home, located at 880 Green Drive, is one of many with alleged

foundation defects that have caused major floor damage and reported mold

infestation.

When the Flanigans noticed discoloring of their floor's linoleum and on

walls, they called in Kaufman & Broad's investigators, who did find black

spores inside the fiberglass of one wall that was opened up, Candy Flanigan

claimed. " We have documentation for all of this, " she said.

Kaufman & Broad's sales office on Drive closed as a result of the

protest, and staff at the company's Orange Avenue showroom in Vacaville

claimed no knowledge of the mold issue and deferred comment to Sandy Cooney,

Kaufman & Broad's head of public relations at the company's headquarters in

Los Angeles. Cooney could not be reached for comment Sunday despite repeated

attempts by phone.

Candy Flanigan also said that a hazardous materials unit was at her house

Saturday collecting and analyzing samples.

" There were four people there in full protective gear, " Dave Flanigan said.

" They were from Spacecon. One guy's business card said he was an asbestos

removal specialist. "

Spacecon is a Sacramento-based firm specializing in hazardous cleanups.

Some 43 homes in that area appear to have been impacted by the alleged

moisture damage and mold problems, Candy Flanigan said. Other area

homeowners agreed.

" They (Kaufman & Broad) ran a test on our house without our knowledge or

permission, " said Bob Silva, who resides at 860 Bounds St. in the same

neighborhood as the Flanigans. " They cut holes in our floors in three areas

and took the samples away. It's been 3 1/2 months and we haven't heard

anything. And they haven't even repaired the holes they cut. "

Silva has two daughters, 1 and 2 years of age, living in the house.

" My 2-year-old, Alissa, developed a deep respiratory infection right after

they opened up those holes, " Silva said.

The Flanigans' daughter, , has also had a history of health troubles

the parents say might be linked to their home's condition.

" was on every kind of medicine imaginable, " said Candy Flanigan.

" She had to breathe some of them in through a mask, and she has been on

Prednisone (a potent steroid) for a long time. " Candy Flanigan added that

's slightly swollen face and neck areas are a direct result of the

steroid treatment.

However, when the family moved to the Marriott Residence Inn, 's

symptoms all but disappeared.