To the editor:

Sullivan County is facing a housing crisis that can no longer be ignored. Families here are being forced to live in unsafe, unhealthy, and unaffordable conditions. Every season brings new infestations—flies in the summer, roaches year-round, and rats in the winter—because many landlords neglect upkeep and refuse to make necessary repairs. Large families have almost no options, as there are no proper housing units designed to accommodate them. Instead, they are squeezed into overcrowded, hazardous apartments that are rented out without regard for safety or livability.

Meanwhile, rent prices continue to skyrocket, with many families forced to pay $2,500 or more just to secure a roof over their heads. Affordable housing should not mean choosing between unhealthy conditions or financial ruin. Sullivan County must do better—by holding landlords accountable, creating livable housing options for families of all sizes, and ensuring that affordability does not come at the cost of dignity and safety.

Deijha Carrien

Loch Sheldrake