IN PROGRESS
What’s the easiest way to repeat the past? Without documenting and closely examining who and what is being reported, and understanding why accountability is so difficult to track, it’s likely the Agapions will get yet another slap on the hand while the poor, marginalized and underserved in Greensboro are left to weep and bury their dead.
Who is Who
The Triad refugee resettlement “system” is a long and confusing list of organizations, offices, and individuals that operate in the Greensboro area. To understand what happened at Summit-Cone means being able to identify organizations and their purpose, who is who and who (supposedly) does what.
The Summit-Cone FamiliesThe Triad refugee resettlement “system” is a long and confusing list of organizations, offices, and individuals that operate in the Greensboro area. To understand what happened at Summit-Cone means being able to identify organizations and their purpose, who is who and who (supposedly) does what.
At the Summit-Cone apartments there were about 33 families who lived there starting July 2016 until September, 2018.
These included the family of Emmanuel Mugabo, father, and .., mother, regularly worked at a chicken processing plant located two counties away. She attended New Arrival School for English lessons. Their children, Roy Hope, 8 years old, a Girl Scout, attended Rankin Elementary School; Lisa Josiane, 7 years old, also a Girl Scout, attended Rankin; Christopher Danny, 5 years old; Joshua John, 3 years old; and Trump Emmanuel Kamali, 18 months old.
The children’s grandparents lived in a separate apartment unit. They attended an English class taught at New Arrivals Institute.
A summary of all families: About 65% were from Democratic Republic of Congo, 20% from Iraq, Syria or Sudan. These two groups made up 85% of the residents and had been in the US for two years or less. The remaining households(15%) included Montagnard, Latino and one African-American (ie, native born). All the families were low-income. All households had wage-earners. 95% were newcomers — refugees or immigrants. 90% were people of color. 80% were low English proficiency (LEP). About 5% were voter eligible.
In all about 160 residents lived at Summit-Cone at the time of the May 12 fire.
The school children attended the Summit-Cone after school program located in the apartment complex.
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The Refugee Resettlement Agencies and State-Contracted Organizations
Refugee Services Office, NC Department of Health and Human Services: This Raleigh-based office oversees the NC Refugee Assistance Program which funds private, national nonprofit agencies (voluntary agencies or VolAgs) and other local organizations to provide services to refugees in Greensboro and surrounding area.
African Services Coalition:
Church World Services:
Senior Resources: A local service organization that provides limited services to some refugee elder populations.
New Arrivals Institute: A spin-off from the old local Lutheran Family Services office specializing in adult education
Montagnard Dega Association: Probably the state's oldest ethnic community-based organization (ECBO), it provides assistance to the indigenous tribal peoples from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
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The City of Greensboro
Mayor and City Council (elected officials)
Human Relations Department
Human Relations Commission
International Advisory Committee
Greensboro Fire Department
Neighborhood Development
Minimum Housing Standards Commission
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Arco Realty
A Who’s Who of Agencies, Organizations and Others
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Others
Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services
Guilford County Schools
Greensboro Housing Coalition
Legal Aid
Center for New North Carolinians, UNCG
Bonner Center for Community Service and Learning, Guilford College
Every Campus a Refuge, Guilford College
Every Campus a Refuge, Guilford College
Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, NC Department of Health and Human Services
Greensboro News-Record
Triad City Beat
Spectrum News
WFMY
Greensboro News-Record
Triad City Beat
Spectrum News
WFMY
Elizabeth Benton is the Greensboro code compliance division manager
Goldie Wells is the elected council member representing District 2 where the family and 5 children lived
Marikay Abuzuaiter is a council member at large long connected with newcomer communities
Nancy Vaughan is the mayor of Greensboro
African Services Coalition is a private refugee service provider (VOLAG, or "voluntary agency") contracted by the US State Department.
African Services Coalition is a private refugee service provider (VOLAG, or "voluntary agency") contracted by the US State Department.
Church World Services is a private refugee service provider (VOLAG, or "voluntary agency") contracted by the US State Department.
Office of Refugee Resettlement is under the Administration of Children and Families, US Dept of Health and Human Services.
NC Dept of Health and Human Services is a state office which oversees the NC Refugee Assistance Program.
Office of Refugee Resettlement is under the Administration of Children and Families, US Dept of Health and Human Services.
NC Dept of Health and Human Services is a state office which oversees the NC Refugee Assistance Program.
International Advisory Committee is a committee representing the interests of newcomers, refugees and immigrants under the Human Relations Commission. Both have civilian memberships and are under the City of Greensboro's Human Relations Department.
Minimum Housing Standards Commission
Arco, ARCO, Arco Realty
Greensboro Housing Coalition
New Arrivals Institute
Rankin Elementary School
Greensboro Housing Coalition
New Arrivals Institute
Rankin Elementary School
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
Community members’ opinions and statements in red
Statements by City officials in blue
Statements by refugee service agencies in green
Statements by the Agapions
2010
2011
2012
2013
Minutes, Minimum Housing Standards Commission:
2014
2015
Text
2016
Feb 11, 2016Minutes, Minimum Housing Standards Commission: Order of Demolition issued, wording included
Doors are difficult to operate; Cracked or missing electrical outlet covers; electrical equipment just be properly installed and maintained; power not on at time of inspection; doors difficult to operate; all appliances need to be capable of performing their intended function; missing smoke detectors; carbon monoxide detector required; furnace Is in disrepair; dwelling unit shall contain a bathtub, bathroom sink, commode, or separate kitchen sink; water was not on at time of initial inspection; plumbing fixture, specifically commode, loose and not properly secured; plumbing facilities must be maintained in a safe, sanitary, functional condition; duct system needs to be capable of performing its required function; unclean, unsanitary floors, ceilings and/or walls; windows need glazing; exterior wood surfaces need to be maintained with paint or other protective coating
The statement continues
Chair Ellen Sheridan stated that the property involved in this matter is located at 3100 A-N Summit Avenue in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The property owner and all parties in interest in said property have been properly served with all Complaints, Notices and Orders issued in this matter in compliance with the law.
The property owner and all parties in interest were afforded their due process rights in compliance with the law. The property in question has more than five separate types of violations of any of the Minimum Housing Code Standards and the cost of said violations is greater than 50 percent of the value of the structure.
The continuation of this dwelling in its current condition is detrimental to the health, safety, morals and welfare of the people within the City of Greensboro and is unfit for human habitation.
Based on the foregoing findings of fact, it is hereby concluded that this matter is properly before this Commission; the described structure is dangerous and unfit for human habitation; and the Inspector is proper in all respects.
Therefore it is Ordered, Resolved and Decreed by vote of the Commission that the Inspector is upheld.
July 2016
Minimum Housing Standards Commission rescinds the Order of Demolition
2017
• pre-2016: Family fled from DRC to Uganda, then to Greensboro
• 2016: Family arrives in Greensboro in July, 2016 as a client of African Services Coalition. The family is placed into 3100 Summit Ave Apt G, also known as Summit-Cone apartments or Heritage Apartments, which contained a mix of SE Asian refugee residents and active African Services Coalition and Church World Services clients.
2018
April
April 24, 2018: A DCR family placed into Summit-Cone apartments, contradicting agencies' statements that none have been put there in the past year. Chronicle of Higher Education, "We Can Eat, We Can Live"
• Prior to May 12, 2018: Community members state the family repeatedly complained about poor housing conditions.
2018
May
Two die in the fire; the rest die later in the day at Brenner Hospital
• May 13, 2018:
Gofundme campaign by Latosha Walker, office administrator for African Services Coalition eventually raises over $54,000 for the parents.
• May 14, 2018:
News-Record: Friends of the family, which immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo 18 months ago, remain adamant that the children’s father had repeatedly complained to management about fire breaking out around the stove. “Three times,” said Crystal Black, as she momentarily stepped away from grieving family members, who were overwhelmed by their loss.
Gofundme campaign message appears (since removed):
It is a sad time when self praise, ignorance, and prejudices get in the way of effectively serving others. I have learned that there are speculations as to the intention and overall moral of our agency and the work we do. Since 2007, we have been resettling refugees from all over the world to Guilford County. Not only do we resettle refugee families, we provide employment services and job placement, vocational training and skills recertification, a Refugee Scholars Program for youth who desire higher education, and a Merit program for refugees in which they have access to financial literacy and are eligible for a small business loan through our agency. Our entire agency is Federally funded and for those who are aware of Federal funding, you know the outcomes, regulations, and mandates in which we must uphold. We offer all these services and put in many hours of work, because we are committed to our families rebuilding in the U.S. and reaching self-sufficiency. During this sad time, please make an effort to educate yourself on refugee resettlement in Greensboro and the U.S. Do not misinform the public based on your presumption but research and really know exactly what we do.
We have never and never will take advantage of our clients nor the community support that is offered to them. Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the family during this difficult time.
Gofundme campaign by Latosha Walker, office administrator for African Services Coalition eventually raises over $54,000 for the parents.
• May 14, 2018:
News-Record: Friends of the family, which immigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo 18 months ago, remain adamant that the children’s father had repeatedly complained to management about fire breaking out around the stove. “Three times,” said Crystal Black, as she momentarily stepped away from grieving family members, who were overwhelmed by their loss.
Gofundme campaign message appears (since removed):
It is a sad time when self praise, ignorance, and prejudices get in the way of effectively serving others. I have learned that there are speculations as to the intention and overall moral of our agency and the work we do. Since 2007, we have been resettling refugees from all over the world to Guilford County. Not only do we resettle refugee families, we provide employment services and job placement, vocational training and skills recertification, a Refugee Scholars Program for youth who desire higher education, and a Merit program for refugees in which they have access to financial literacy and are eligible for a small business loan through our agency. Our entire agency is Federally funded and for those who are aware of Federal funding, you know the outcomes, regulations, and mandates in which we must uphold. We offer all these services and put in many hours of work, because we are committed to our families rebuilding in the U.S. and reaching self-sufficiency. During this sad time, please make an effort to educate yourself on refugee resettlement in Greensboro and the U.S. Do not misinform the public based on your presumption but research and really know exactly what we do.
We have never and never will take advantage of our clients nor the community support that is offered to them. Thank you for your continued support and prayers for the family during this difficult time.
• May 16, 2018
International Advisory Committee, under the Human Relations Commission and Greensboro Human Relations Department, holds its monthly meeting (also reported in the News-Record) at McGirt-Horton Library with two agenda items, a tornado report and fire information.
• May 18, 2018
News-Record: The Greensboro Fire Department announces “unattended cooking” as the cause of the fire. No written report is issued to the public. “Unattended cooking” appears to be a standard term used by fire experts to describe the largest category of home fire incidents.
Once the origin area was identified, the investigators narrowed the cause to unattended cooking and that the fire was accidental in nature. The fire department said its investigative report does not, nor is it intended to, contain every detail as part of the origin and cause analysis. Also, the identification of parties having possible civil and/or criminal responsibility for the fire is beyond the scope of analysis contained in the report...
Greensboro’s two refugee resettlement provider (RSP) agencies, African Services Coalition and Church World Services, have clients at Summit-Cone.
The North Carolina African Services Coalition placed the family at the apartment complex 18 months ago, when they arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a resettlement program. But the agency has since stopped setting up homes there because of complaints about living conditions.
• May 23, 2018
News-Record: My letter to the editor, asking three questions.
Why do we condone the placement of highly vulnerable families — refugees — into housing that we know to be inherently dangerous?
What can we do to help families who are still living there to leave?
What can we do to ensure that poor families, either of their own accord or because they are refugees, do not immediately take the place of the departed?
• May 24, 2018
WFMY: Video includes statements from community members.
Quotes the full statement by ARCO, the company owned by Irene Agapion.
First and foremost, ARCO Realty and members of our family are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five children in the fire on Sat, May 12, 2018. We express our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to the family of the victims of this accident. All of us at ARCO are devastated that one of our tenant families has endured such a horrible loss.
Much of the news coverage of this event mixes two unrelated issues. The fire department determined that unattended cooking caused the fire, NOT a maintenance problem with the stove, smoke detectors or a failure to meet other life safety requirements in unit 3100-E Summit. The fire was a tragic accident unrelated to anything ARCO did or did not do.
The entire apartment complex, including unit 3100-E, was fully renovated eighteen months ago. During that process, each passed inspections by local code officials and received a certificate of occupancy. The tenants of unit 3100-E were the first to occupy the unit after it was fully renovated. Since then, ARCO responded to and promptly addressed all maintenance requests received from them.
ARCO is committed to providing safe, affordable housing for its tenants. ARCO does not object to local officials inspecting properties. ARCO fully supports the efforts of City and other local officials to maintain standards and takes seriously any concerns raised by tenants or City officials. We have just received the City’s report. We will study it and take prompt, effective action to address all legitimate concerns and code compliance issues identified in the report.
• May 24, 2018
WFMY: Hundreds of violations reported by city inspectors
• May 25, 2018
Fox8: City inspectors accompanied by report over 200 violations, "mostly minor".
International Advisory Committee, under the Human Relations Commission and Greensboro Human Relations Department, holds its monthly meeting (also reported in the News-Record) at McGirt-Horton Library with two agenda items, a tornado report and fire information.
• May 18, 2018
News-Record: The Greensboro Fire Department announces “unattended cooking” as the cause of the fire. No written report is issued to the public. “Unattended cooking” appears to be a standard term used by fire experts to describe the largest category of home fire incidents.
Once the origin area was identified, the investigators narrowed the cause to unattended cooking and that the fire was accidental in nature. The fire department said its investigative report does not, nor is it intended to, contain every detail as part of the origin and cause analysis. Also, the identification of parties having possible civil and/or criminal responsibility for the fire is beyond the scope of analysis contained in the report...
Greensboro’s two refugee resettlement provider (RSP) agencies, African Services Coalition and Church World Services, have clients at Summit-Cone.
The North Carolina African Services Coalition placed the family at the apartment complex 18 months ago, when they arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a resettlement program. But the agency has since stopped setting up homes there because of complaints about living conditions.
• May 23, 2018
News-Record: My letter to the editor, asking three questions.
Why do we condone the placement of highly vulnerable families — refugees — into housing that we know to be inherently dangerous?
What can we do to help families who are still living there to leave?
What can we do to ensure that poor families, either of their own accord or because they are refugees, do not immediately take the place of the departed?
• May 24, 2018
WFMY: Video includes statements from community members.
Quotes the full statement by ARCO, the company owned by Irene Agapion.
First and foremost, ARCO Realty and members of our family are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five children in the fire on Sat, May 12, 2018. We express our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to the family of the victims of this accident. All of us at ARCO are devastated that one of our tenant families has endured such a horrible loss.
Much of the news coverage of this event mixes two unrelated issues. The fire department determined that unattended cooking caused the fire, NOT a maintenance problem with the stove, smoke detectors or a failure to meet other life safety requirements in unit 3100-E Summit. The fire was a tragic accident unrelated to anything ARCO did or did not do.
The entire apartment complex, including unit 3100-E, was fully renovated eighteen months ago. During that process, each passed inspections by local code officials and received a certificate of occupancy. The tenants of unit 3100-E were the first to occupy the unit after it was fully renovated. Since then, ARCO responded to and promptly addressed all maintenance requests received from them.
ARCO is committed to providing safe, affordable housing for its tenants. ARCO does not object to local officials inspecting properties. ARCO fully supports the efforts of City and other local officials to maintain standards and takes seriously any concerns raised by tenants or City officials. We have just received the City’s report. We will study it and take prompt, effective action to address all legitimate concerns and code compliance issues identified in the report.
• May 24, 2018
WFMY: Hundreds of violations reported by city inspectors
• May 25, 2018
Fox8: City inspectors accompanied by report over 200 violations, "mostly minor".
News-Record: But some residents contend they had not gotten a response to problems that are months old. One tenant claimed he has never seen pest control people around the complex.
• May 26, 2018
Funeral at Mount Zion Church
2018
June
News-Record: The ""There are not words" editorial on Agapions and shortage of affordable housing
• June 25, 2018
I submit a Counterpoint article to the News-Record editorial — unpublished — that uses the line, "When city officials accept agencies’ assurances, 'We got this', instead of providing oversight they set the stage for another perfect storm of tragedy and lack of accountability."
• June 26, 2018
District 2 meeting with Council Member Goldie Wells belatedly adds a fire update to the agenda.
2018
July
• July 2, 2018
News-Record breezily dismisses the fire problem in a "Short Stack" summary using the phrase "We got this" in an exactly opposite meaning.
2018
August
Text
2018
September
Text
2018
October
Text
2018
November
Text
Developing measurements and standards for families means systemic
support for programs and services that can achieve those goals over time.
This is the layperson’s version of Question 1.
Why do we treat refugees as if they live in a convenient, White bubble?
If-then statement
Venn diagram
Cartesian Coordinate System
US race discrimination policies and family income together determine where a refugee family can live when they are first given an apartment. This often means marginally safe to unsafe housing where a family faces increased health risks, including in the case of the ... family in which their five children died. Their living conditions are further complicated because of the reputation of the owners for flaunting city housing codes.
