Marina
For Aundrea Charleston and her family in Kansas City, Kansas, returning home no longer brings comfort.
Since July 15, they have lived without electricity, thanks to a collapsed retaining wall that crushed the building’s power supply, rendering their apartment dark, hot, and inhospitable.
Timeline of the Outage and Response
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 15 | Storms cause retaining wall collapse, damaging the apartment’s power source. |
| Following Weeks | Aundrea reports the outage daily as temperature rises and conditions worsen. |
| Late August | City inspectors issue a notice: power must be restored by August 28 or residents must leave. |
| Current Status | Family faces homelessness if repairs are not completed by the deadline. |
Daily Battles Without Power
Without electricity, the family can’t even enjoy a simple cold glass of tea. They’re living without air conditioning, lighting, refrigeration, or anything else that depends on electricity.
Aundrea’s repeated outage reports have gone unanswered—leaving her anxious and stranded in a home that has become unlivable as temperatures soar.
Standoff Over Repairs and Permits
The issue is complicated by a code requirement. City inspectors demanded that the landlord move the power source from the back of the building to the side—requiring new permits that could delay repairs even further.
The landlord claims that, without the relocation requirement, the issue could have been resolved in a week. Now, with the August 28 deadline looming, the family fears eviction to the sidewalk, as they have nowhere else to go.
Advocacy Brings Hope
After weeks of frustration, Aundrea reached out to the FOX4 Problem Solvers, prompting investigation into hold-ups.
The landlord indicated permit delays are the main obstacle. Meanwhile, the city’s building inspections department is being pressed to expedite the permit process, although no timeline for resolution has been announced.
How This Impacts Quality of Life
- Unbearable indoor temperatures during summer, creating health risks.
- Inability to store food, maintain hygiene, or safely use appliances.
- Emotional strain, as daily living becomes unsafe and uncertain.
- The threat of forced displacement in the absence of a quick fix.
A month-long power outage has transformed Aundrea Charleston’s apartment into an inhospitable, dangerous environment.
What began as a structural failure has escalated into a bureaucratic impasse—where building code requirements, permit delays, and landlord hurdles stand between a family and their safety.
With the August 28 deadline approaching, urgent action is needed to restore power or the family faces homelessness.
This situation reminds us how essential infrastructure, responsive governance, and tenant advocacy are in ensuring basic livable conditions for all.