TACOMA, Wash. — For over two weeks, elderly and disabled residents at the Wright Park House apartments in Tacoma have been stuck with little to no access to the outside world following the breakdown of the building’s only elevator.

“We’re just a bunch of old people missing out on essentials, stuck in the building,” said Beverly Bashant, a resident in her 60s. “They don’t care.”

Elevator Out Since April 26, No Clear Timeline

According to Kathleen Waters, president of the building’s Tenant Association, the elevator stopped working on April 26. Since then, residents say building management has failed to provide a timeline or consistent updates about repairs.

The building, located on South G Street, is a seven-story affordable housing complex managed by Redwood Communities. Attempts to contact the management via phone and email by The News Tribune received no response by publication time.

Waters, an 80-year-old who lives on the fifth floor, said that many tenants are missing medical appointments, groceries, and medications due to the inaccessibility. Confusing notices and the absence of clear communication have only added to the residents’ frustration.

Trapped and in Pain

Bashant, who lives on the third floor, returned home from the hospital in a wheelchair following surgery — only to discover the elevator was still broken. Despite a metal rod in her leg, she attempted to crawl up the stairs, eventually collapsing and calling the fire department for help.

“I’m sitting here scared to death every waking minute that I’m going to die,” she said. “We live like we live in the building alone, trying to survive.”

Unable to descend the stairs, Bashant relies on grocery deliveries, which often go missing. She’s also missed vital follow-up care and physical therapy appointments.

“If I could just get downstairs, there’s a beautiful park across the street, and I’m supposed to be doing rehab,” she said. “But if I can’t get down, I’m getting weaker — I just have to lay here.”

Daily Struggles for Other Residents

Michael Allen, vice president of the Tenant Association and a 67-year-old resident on the third floor, said climbing stairs with bad knees has been a painful necessity. Even simple tasks like carrying groceries or doing laundry have become burdensome.

“With my really bad knees, it’s just torture,” Allen said.

He’s had to change his shopping habits, avoiding heavier items like gallons of milk, and is now seeking pet food deliveries for his cat because he can’t carry the bags up the stairs.

Security Concerns and Broken Promises

Residents say security issues have also gone unaddressed. Waters and Allen reported trespassers in stairwells and disabled alarm systems, allowing unauthorized entry through emergency exits.

Only recently did management post a night and weekend security guard, but Allen said it was a reactive move, not a solution. Waters added that this was an issue she had raised for months with no action taken.

“I couldn’t have my granddaughter come to visit me,” Waters said. “Because of the graffiti in the stairwell… and she might encounter a homeless person.”

While management suggested asking the security guard for help carrying items, no contact info was provided, making the offer impractical for most.

Emotional Toll of Isolation

The elevator breakdown has not only limited physical mobility but also deepened emotional isolation among residents. Many used the elevator to access the seventh-floor community room for activities like bingo and social gatherings. That now feels like a distant memory.

“We used to be able to see one another and share time together. Now, we’re stuck in our apartments every day,” Waters said.

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Even doing laundry on the seventh floor has become an ordeal, with residents sometimes waiting hours to finish loads to avoid multiple stair trips.

Mixed Messages and Temporary Solutions

A May 2 notice from management advised residents to withhold rent due to the elevator situation. But a May 9 update reversed course, stating rent must be paid, and that staff would personally collect it from residents unable to reach the office.

“So they’re willing to come and get the rent check but not help anybody with the laundry,” Waters said.

On Monday night, some tenants were reportedly offered a temporary hotel stay, but Allen said he never received the offer, raising questions about how decisions are being communicated or prioritized.

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