Habitat for Humanity accused of endangering citizens

Independence, KS – Residents of an Independence neighborhood are claiming that a local charity is putting their health at risk.

The Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity is working to build a new house on a lot on which an abandoned house was demolished over a decade ago. During the demolition process, the house’s asbestos-containing siding, roofing, and flooring were all buried underground to prevent exposure.

Neighbors said they had alerted Habitat for Humanity about the asbestos on the land and that the organization agreed to build a slab on the land instead of digging up the earth. Residents were furious when they saw workers digging on the site to build a basement for the house, and they went to confront the workers.

The workers showed the residents a permit they had that allowed them to build on the site, but residents were angry that there was no documentation that proved the site had been tested for the presence of asbestos.

At the moment, the only local laws which prohibit burying or digging up land that contains asbestos affect strictly commercial properties. Some residents were shocked to learn that permits are not required to do construction work related to asbestos on residential properties. Environmental experts agree that the lack of a residential law doesn’t make sense.

Habitat for Humanity said that it has found no evidence of asbestos on the site and the organization is working with the city to ensure that the property is safe for construction. It also denies that residents were ever promised that a slab would be built on the property since the organization doesn’t typical do it.

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