Tenants at a downtown public housing complex say they're fed up with poor living conditions. Saturday, dozens of them showed Augusta Commissioners why.

Tenants at Ervin Towers apartments held a meeting to voice their continued complaints with the declining conditions at their apartment complex.

Meeting organizer and tenant, James Ivery, says the Augusta Housing Commission has been slacking in their responsibility to Ervin Towers.

“I remind you that this meeting is not to jump on them, but to let them know that Ervin Tower's residents ain't playin',” said Ivery. “If they're going to go up on our rent, they need to go up on our services also.”

Ivory says Ervin Towers tenants’ rent is going up, but their standard of living is going down. He says tenants have complained about poor living conditions for some time with insufficient response from Augusta's Housing Authority with regards to repairing the apartment’s property.

“They also promised us that the washers and driers would be replaced,” said Ivery. “From some of the tenants that have been coming back to me, they're saying that those washers and driers are still breaking down.”

Ivory says rundown elevators, poor ground maintenance and a lack in security have turned Ervin Towers into a mess.

Augusta Commissioners attended the meeting to hear for themselves the problems facing tenants. Augusta Mayor Pro Tem, Betty Beard toured the apartment and listened to the concerns of tenants.

“There are some things that need to be done,” said Beard speaking to tenants. “When there's a problem, something should be done immediately. So I've given them my numbers and they can contact me and we'll be sure something is done.”

The Augusta Housing Authority's Director of Planning and Development, Richard Arfman, says the Housing Authority has already taken steps to address the problems of tenants.

"We had a meeting August 12th where we spoke with [Ervin Towers tenants] about the complaints they were raising," said Arfman.

Arfman said they have increased security presence, replaced and inspected washers and driers and are continuing work on the elevators and ground maintenance.

Tenants like Ivory say they're glad to have the support of Augusta Commissioners, but they say it's more important they continue to support each other in seeing that the necessary changes are made.

“If this building is going to return to number one like it was, we as a people need to come together and unify,” said Ivery. “[Then] we can have a better and safer place to live here on Laney Walker Boulevard. I ain't fussin', I'm just telling you how it is.”

Beard says the county is working on a multi-million dollar plan to revitalize public housing in the Laney Walker and Bethlehem areas.