University Housing Services struggles with mold, safety
By Arturo Gonzalez, October 14, 2025
More than 40% of the Cal Poly Pomona’s Residential Suites balconies remain closed off after 10 months or longer, despite University Housing Services’ claims all balconies will be repaired before the fall 2025-2026 semester.
UHS executive director Jon Merchant said UHS spoke with outside vendors over the summer to discuss engineering drawings, but he blamed the state for the slow progress.
“I don’t have a specific timeline as far as when the work will begin, but we’re moving ahead,” Merchant said. “The process of getting things built in California is slow.”
After the first inspection in spring 2024, an architectural firm identified eight balconies that did not meet structural integrity and waterproofing requirements, The Poly Post reported in May. In the second inspection of the remaining balconies, the same company identified another 72 balconies that remained closed since January 2025.
According to Merchant’s statement in May, the identified structural issues were split wood beams, old sealant and loosened wiring cabling that provide fencing for the balconies.
Although 80 balconies are currently closed for repair, not all of them need to be closed, according to Merchant.
“We want to make sure we can do the repairs in a way that’s helpful, that students aren’t going to be at risk,” Merchant said.
About 1,000 students, out of the approximately 2,700 students residing on campus, live in the Residential Suites and pay around $6,000 per semester for on-campus housing. Many Suites residents complained the broken balconies are included in the cost.
Merchant said he is unsure whether the balcony is one of the most used spaces for students, but there are study lounges, gathering spaces and the suites’ living room areas to meet up instead.
“Business student Molly Chen said the balcony attached to her suite is tilted, has uneven wood panels while nails are sticking out.
“It does make a sound,” Chen said. “It doesn’t sound safe, so usually we try to make it so not many people go out there.”
Chen said the balconies are not listed in the lease agreement, but they should be.
Despite her concerns over the balcony’s safety, Chen said she feels safer in the Residential Suites compared to her time last year in the Residential Halls.
“There was a homeless man that got to the 7th floor,” Chen said.
She also recalled that her friend “got kind of bit by a coyote around that area.”
Cleanliness is another issue CPP is no stranger to, as students have pointed out the prior mold issues in their suites.
Aerospace engineering student Europa Wareing, who used to live in the Residential Suites but now resides in the university-owned apartments at The Current, said her experience in the Residential Suites was marred by mold issues, which led to her getting sick. She said she rarely gets sick but felt “stuffy” and “crummy.”
“That’s just because of all the mold in there, and there’s mold in the vents and the side of the building and everywhere,” Wareing said.
As The Poly Post reported, a month and a half before the spring 2025 semester ended, there were 15 work orders related to students’ black mold-related complaints. UHS followed the protocol and inspected those cases.
However, The Current has its own issues going on, especially with security, according to an article by The Poly Post.
“We’re dealing with a very big security issue because people don’t close the doors,” Wareing said. “So, it’s led to homeless people getting in. A man with a machete once kind of stalked the premises before.”
Wareing said there is supposed to be 24/7 security in the area, but getting a hold of them is difficult. That is why she feels the need to have self-defense on her.
“Being here is such a breath of fresh air,” Wareing said. “But I mean, if folks are looking for absolute perfection, this is definitely not the place.”
In addition to the Residential Suites, there are Traditional Halls and Residential Halls on campus. The University Village and The Current are off-campus housing options for student housing.
Feature image courtesy of Arturo Gonzalez-Garcia
