Just about everyone who has entered D.C. General’s family shelter has complained about the peeling paint and mold in the stairwells. The complaints are perhaps second to complaints about the food, slow case management, and bizarre staff-resident interactions. What we were wondering: Has any District agency inspected the property and attempted to abate the peeling paint and mold?

During the snow storms in early Feb., Councilmember Tommy Wells toured the facility and spotted issues with the facility. A few weeks ago, he told City Desk:  “I saw mold and ceiling damage was in the stairwells.” He also said residents complained about plumbing problems, and concerns over cleanliness.

Wells’ staff followed up by interviewing residents and doing their own mini-inspections at D.C. General. The staff even pitched in with some case management services.

But that was three, four weeks ago. So why is the District Department of the Environment only now inspecting D.C. General? The agency is apparently inspecting the shelter today.

We are waiting for answers from DDOE on that one.

Wells’ office does report that the District’s Department of Real Estate Services inspected the shelter last year.

The Department of Health reports it has not inspected D.C. General. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs says it has also not inspected the former hospital. “We haven’t inspected this property and nobody has brought any issues with this property to our attention,” says DCRA spokesperson Mike Rupert.

Whether the DDOE abates the mold or not may be a moot point. The shelter had drastically reduced its population—from a record capacity of 200 families to 109 families on Monday.