VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Military families living at Wadsworth Shores in Virginia Beach are speaking out about what they say is deplorable living conditions, describing their homes as infested, flooded and unsafe.
WAVY 10 received this statement from Congresswoman Jen Kiggans: “The reports from Wadsworth Shores are deeply concerning. Our military families deserve safe, clean, and comfortable housing. I’ve been in contact with Navy leadership and Liberty Military Housing and am working to make sure these issues are addressed quickly and thoroughly. I will continue advocating for the health and well-being of every military family in Coastal Virginia.
Families who serve our nation should never have to worry about the safety of their homes. They deserve better, and I’m committed to being their number one advocate.” -Rep. Kiggans”
Residents have reported mice infestations, mold, cockroaches and power outages — issues they say contradict Liberty Military Housing’s promise to provide a “welcoming environment” for service members and their families.
Kylee Leahy said she had to move to a second unit after mice droppings covered parts of her first home.
“Some people are literally here because their husbands are on deployment,” she said. “Not everybody has the luxury of nearby family.”
Liberty Military Housing, who oversees Wadsworth Shores, said they were only made aware of the complaints recently.
“Over the last two days, we have been made aware of several residents’ concerns about their homes and communities, some of which were previously unreported to Liberty,” according to a statement from Liberty Military Housing. “While we cannot offer further specifics out of respect for resident privacy, we can confirm that our team is working round the clock to ensure any issues are addressed in a timely manner. “
Another resident who spoke to 10 On Your Side off-camera said cockroaches have plagued her home for months. She showed us photos where maintenance sealed gaps and cracks in the home using duct tape as a fix.
Jacob Card, a father of a 15-month-old, took us inside his home where mold was spreading along the walls of his unit. He worries for his child’s health.
“… My house can be uninhabitable for my child, and they just didn’t take that in consideration,” he said.
Residents also said flooding is a persistent issue — both inside the homes and in parking lots. Card says it got so bad, he and other residents unclogged a drain themselves after maintenance failed to respond.
When approached for comment, a Wadsworth Shores district manager acknowledged awareness of “grievances” but declined to speak with 10 On Your Side.
Now, many residents say they just want out, without financial penalties.
“I just want to get out without being charged,” Leahy said. “It feels like they do this to everybody.”
A Liberty Military Housing spokesperson says they take all reports of maintenance issues seriously.
“We rely on our residents to report any maintenance concerns within their homes, and aim to resolve these issues quickly and effectively,” the spokesperson said. “We have a 24-hour call center, as well as a resident app and website that makes it easy to submit maintenance requests. As part of our maintenance policy, all work orders are classified as emergency, urgent, or routine— each with defined response and completion targets to ensure timely service. Within the Oceana District, we maintain year-to-date response rate of 98.4% and a completion rate of 98.6%, with an average work order completion time of under two days.
“If a family sees something in their homes that they suspect could be a maintenance issue, it is important they report it immediately by contacting their District Office or by calling Liberty At Your Service at 888-578-4141. Liberty is fully committed to ensuring our residents live in a safe and healthy environment every day and that our communities provide a comfortable living experience for all residents.”
As of now, families remain in limbo, they told 10 On Your Side they are waiting for relief.
10 On Your Side will continue to follow this story as it develops.
