In early 2022, St. Teresa of Calcutta Villa opened its doors in San Diego, presenting itself as a beacon of hope for those transitioning out of homelessness.
Managed by Father Joe’s Villages, the facility offered 407 units of affordable housing, designed to connect residents with essential services.
However, residents quickly expressed their disappointment as the building soon faced significant issues, particularly with its three elevators.
Christina Maria Ennis, one of the first residents, shared her struggles when the elevators failed to operate.
“I’m not supposed to use the stairs. I’m not supposed to lift anything over five pounds. I have severe degenerative disc disease,” she explained.
Ennis, who moved in February 2022, has since joined fellow resident Maurice Trull in pursuing legal action against both Father Joe’s and the management company, Commercial and 14th LLC.
Trull, who uses a wheelchair, described his frustration with accessing his home: “It’s been kind of difficult. Cause I like to go, come and go, like I want to.”
Other residents echoed Trull’s sentiments. Jimmy Williams, an army veteran, noted how elevator malfunctions had affected his ability to attend appointments.
“I have missed appointments because the elevators have been down,” said Williams, who like Trull, was placed in a fourth-floor apartment despite his mobility challenges.
Their concerns raised questions about the building’s management strategies, with Williams asserting that more should be done to accommodate residents with disabilities.
“I don’t think they care about us, that’s what I’m thinking, because if they did, everybody who’s got walkers and wheelchairs automatically should be on the first floor,” he stated.
These resident complaints led to a confirmation by Cal/OSHA’s Elevator Unit, which revealed it had received confidential complaints and found the elevators nonfunctional.
Despite the findings, Cal/OSHA noted it lacks authority to compel elevator owners to restore service, highlighting a significant gap in accountability.
Civil rights attorney Ann Menasche took on the case, emphasizing that the elevator issues amounted to violations of fair housing laws that guarantee accessibility.
Describing the situation as “just one disaster after another,” Menasche outlined the continual challenges faced by residents due to elevator malfunctions.
“Constant breakdowns, either one (elevator) working, two working, or none working, which was disastrous for people,” she said.
Menasche highlighted the grave consequences, recounting incidents such as Michael Mendez becoming stuck outside his apartment for hours and requiring hospitalization due to the elevator issues.
In July of 2023, Menasche filed the lawsuit aimed at addressing these critical concerns.
While the defendants refrained from commenting on ongoing litigation at the time, they acknowledged having an internal complaint process to address structural or maintenance issues within the building.
Fast forward to 2025, a settlement has been reached.
The agreement mandates building management to repair and maintain the elevators to ensure continual service for residents.
Menasche noted, “And we have a mechanism in place with the court for two years that there’ll be court monitoring, and we can go to the judge if there’s a problem that’s not being handled properly. So we have that mechanism.”
In addition, management is required to hold quarterly meetings to discuss ongoing issues and solutions, fostering better communication between residents and management.
Despite the positive outcome from the legal battle, inquiry efforts directed at Father Joe’s Villages regarding the resolution were met with a lack of response.
Deacon Jim Vargas confirmed awareness of the settlement but directed inquiries to their Media Relations company, Mixte.
However, when reached out for comments, Mixte underscored their inability to provide statements on the matter.
In the wake of the lawsuit’s conclusion, residents Ennis and Trull reported an improvement in their living conditions.
Ennis stated, “They’ve been a lot nicer now that things have been tightening up, and the elevators have been fixed a lot more lately. Even now that everything’s coming together, there’s a lot less tension in the building with residents and management.”
Trull expressed optimism for his fellow residents, understanding the vital role the elevators play in maintaining access to the outdoors and the community’s well-being.
“That’s great because it’s so many people in here that need things to work for them, especially when people want to get out,” he remarked.
With notable enhancements now legally required, the hope is that the residents will continue to see improvements in their quality of life at St. Teresa of Calcutta Villa.
image source from：https://www.kpbs.org/news/public-safety/2025/05/28/father-joes-villages-under-court-order-to-keep-elevators-working-in-affordable-housing-building
