Rep. Subramanyam Opens Investigation into USDA Housing Failures in Purcellville
LEESBURG, VA – On Thursday, October 29th, residents of the Purcellville East Apartments complex were evacuated following the collapse of a stairway and inspection deeming the property unsafe. U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) has opened an investigation into failures that led to 61 residents, including 20 children, being evacuated. The housing complex is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Section 515 program, and has had years of complaints of unsafe or dangerous conditions.
The Congressman issued the following statement:
“It is unacceptable that my constituents are being forced into temporary housing. It should not have taken an emergency for these conditions to be addressed. Residents have said for years that these apartments are unsafe, and their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. I demand answers from USDA Secretary Rollins to ensure my constituents are safe in their homes.”
In his letter to USDA Secretary Rollins, Congressman Subramanyam requests answers on when USDA properties have been inspected over the last 3 years, how many employees and contractors are responsible for inspections, and whether recent proposed relocations of USDA staff, or DOGE staffing cuts, have affected inspection timing. He also demands that any USDA properties that are overdue for inspection receive them immediately.
You can read the full letter here and below:
Dear Secretary Rollins,
On Thursday, October 29, at least 56 of my constituents were evacuated from the Purcellville East Apartments complex located at 110-120 North 16th Street in Purcellville, Virginia. The complex includes units in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Section 515 Program. Units across six buildings were evacuated following the reported collapse of a stairway to one of the building's second floor. A follow up inspection deemed the stairwells in six of the buildings unsafe. However, there have been reports of concerning conditions at Purcellville East Apartments for years, including black mold, leaking faucets, and broken air conditioning units.
Now, residents are being placed in hotels and short term housing accommodations. Many of the families involved have young children, and the evacuation will impact proximity to school and work. According to Elizabeth Ford, the Founder of BetterALife, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger: “Most of these families work at Tropical Smoothie, at Giant, at their local restaurants, and so they’re used to being able to walk from here to their job. Now that’s not going to happen.”
Oversight is urgently needed to determine how and why these conditions were not addressed sooner. According to USDA policy, inspectors are required to conduct physical property inspections once every three years, with annual inspections for certain Section 515 properties that have outstanding physical deficiencies.
Moreover, according to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data, the USDA Rural Development staff, which administers the agencies’ housing programs, is being reorganized. Positions are being relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and the overall staff has decreased by approximately 38%.
In light of these concerns, I request answers to the following questions by November 13, 2026. I also request that every property in Virginia’s 10th District that is due for an inspection receive that inspection immediately.
1. How often are inspections (including interior, exterior, and backfill inspections) for the Purcellville East Apartments property meant to occur?
a. When was the last inspection?
b. What were the findings?
2. Have there been delays to USDA inspections of Section 515 housing over the last three years?
3. How many employees at USDA, or contractors, are currently responsible for conducting these inspections?
a. How many employees were on staff, or were contracted, to conduct the inspections on January 19, 2025?
b. Will the USDA inspectors be impacted by the agency’s reorganization plans?
4. How many USDA housing inspections were conducted annually in 2024, 2025, and 2026?
5. Please list all Section 515 properties located in Virginia’s 10th District, and the last time they were inspected.
6. Has USDA received any additional reports on deteriorating or concerning conditions from residents at any other Section 515 properties in Virginia’s 10th District?
7. How have USDA affordable housing operations been impacted by staffing losses since January 20, 2025?
8. Given the recent Memorandum of Understanding between USDA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, how will collaboration across agencies impact property inspections going forward?
9. Have there been any recent changes regarding whether USDA staff conduct inspections themselves, or whether contractors conduct the inspections?
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Rep. Subramanyam