In Maryland’s ‘private community,’ residents are grappling with a crisis as their neighborhood succumbs to the chaos of homeless encampments, vandalism, and frequent power outages. Frustration mounts as local officials urge them to show ‘compassion’ towards those causing the disturbances.
Within the Marylander Condominiums in Prince George’s County, cries for assistance seem to echo unanswered. Instead, building management and lawmakers engage in a blame game, leaving residents feeling abandoned in their plight.
This condominium complex is nestled within America’s largest Democratic stronghold, an area that holds a grim reputation for having one of the highest violent crime rates in Maryland.
The troubles began in 2023 when a homeless encampment emerged in the backyard of the condos, disrupting the once peaceful community. Since then, incidents of break-ins, arson, assaults, vandalism, and even public urination in hallways have become distressingly common, as reported by The Maryland Free Beacon.
Further compounding the issue, nearly half of the building’s residents have been left without heating since Thanksgiving. This followed an incident where a homeless individual allegedly broke in and damaged the pipes, according to Fox 5.
Half the buildings’ residents have also been without heating since Thanksgiving after a homeless person allegedly broke in and damaged pipes, per Fox 5.
The dire situation has led county officials to issue notices to vacate the complex, leaving many people on the brink of homelessness as they desperately try to offload their undesirable units.
At a January 22, town hall where residents expressed their concerns, but police officials Melvin Powell and Thomas Boone sparked outrage with their advice.
Marylander Condominium owners have reported feeling unsafe after a homeless encampment took over in 2023
Their fortunes declined further after one of the encampment members allegedly damaged pipes and knocked out the heating which led to officials issuing notices to vacate
Resident Scott Barber (left) and his mother Linda (right) have lived at the Marylander for years and say it has declined recently due to the nearby homeless encampment
‘We have to be compassionate,’ Powell said, before Boone added that the police department was not going to be ‘criminalizing the unhoused’.
Their words were of little comfort to long-suffering residents, including Scott Barber, who has lived at the Marylander for years with his mother, Linda and brother Chris.
‘The encampment has gotten worse because the buildings are un-secure,’ he said. ‘It’s a crime of opportunity.’
The building installed a fence a $27,000 fence around the complex to keep the homeless population out, but Barber said it hasn’t helped.
Jason Van Horne lives at the complex with his 73-year-old mother. He told WTOP that security at the Marylander is abysmal due to broken locks.
His mother, Lynette, said she can’t even wash her clothes without fearing for her safety.
‘They tear up the laundry room, they sleep in the building, they have sex,’ she told the Washington Times.
‘You have to get up in the morning and look through the peephole before you can leave.’
After the meeting, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy vowed to hold the property management company Quasar ‘accountable’.
Police Public Safety Chief sparked outrage after he Melvin Powell encouraged residents to be ‘compassionate’ of their homeless neighbors despite the issues they are allegedly causing
Resident have alleged poor security in the complex that made it easier for homeless people to break in
Resident were directed to warming stations and encouraged to leave the property but many have been unable to afford to relocate
‘My administration understands the urgency and is committed to seeing this through,’ she said.
On Thursday, a Prince George’s County judge gave property management two weeks to evacuate residents and begin fixing the heating system
Residents reportedly pay up to $1,000 in condo fees on top of hundreds in mortgage payments each month.
Despite the notice to vacate, many residents have been forced to remain in their properties as hotel prices are too high and their condominiums are undesirable to buyers.
Phil Dawit is the managing director of Quasar, which took over the property in April 2025.
He criticized the county for what he claims is its relaxed approach to the homeless encampment.
‘The people working hard and following laws are on their way to being homeless,’ Dawit said. ‘Meanwhile, the homeless encampment gets to do whatever it wants.’
Van Horne agreed with the sentiment, saying those in the encampment are ‘living better than us’.
Dawit has blamed the county for the complex’s regression.
Phil Dawit is the managing director of Quasar which manages the property. He has blamed county officials for the issues
Nicolas Collins warned Marylander residents against providing food for the homeless encampment
‘The dilapidation of this community was caused directly by the county,’ Dawit told the Free Beacon. ‘The reason it’s so bad now is that everyone let it fester.’
But county officials have blamed building management and even residents for the rampant homeless population.
Police Captain Nicolas Collins warned residents against bringing food to members of the homeless encampment on a January 17 Zoom call.
‘That’s only going to incentivize the unhoused population to return and ask for more,’ he said.
The Department of Social Services reportedly runs a program in which outreach teams ‘built trust’ with the homeless population to meet them where they are’.
County Official Danielle Coates corresponded with building management in August, threatening ‘further escalation’ from Housing Enforcement.
County Official Danielle Coates reportedly told building management that the county would escalate the situation if it was not addressed
‘Residents have made repeated requests for repairs and improved safety measures,’ she said in an email to Quasar management.
‘Failure to address these concerns promptly may result in further escalation.’
The county reportedly threatened to sue the Marylander for its failure to fix nearly $5 million in property damage.
Prince George’s County has an 86 percent vote share of Democrats, the most in the country.
The Daily Mail contacted county police, the county council, the Department of Social Services and Quasar Real Estate for comment.
