“Everybody is in chaos, everybody is looking for packages, mail, and nothing's been done about it." 

Roughly 300 residents in Southeast Washington, D.C., have gone two weeks without receiving mail, and so far, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to why this is happening.

Members of the community are concerned, however, since many people rely on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to deliver medical supplies.

“We have been calling, no response," Beverly Ruffin, a Village of Chesapeake resident, told WUSA9. "Nobody can tell us anything, and my main concern is people have medical supplies that are delivered by the mail, they have utility bills, they have important financial documents, personal documents, and that's their only way of being communicated to. I'm not getting any of my mail at all, and I mean, I don't need this to survive, but I know people who are codependent for medical supplies and syringes because they are diabetic. People had those things delivered on a regular daily basis, and it’s a matter of our survival.”

“Everybody is in chaos; everybody is looking for packages, mail, and nothing's been done about it," ANC Commissioner 8D01 Patricia Carmon said.

USPS responded in a statement, saying,

"Rest assured, we take customer concerns seriously and remain fully committed to delivering mail in a timely, consistent manner. We continue to review our staffing and scheduling and make necessary adjustments to enhance our services."

Recent Mail Issues

This month's delay follows a difficult season for mail reliability. In mid-May, D.C. residents and neighbors reported missing and undelivered mail despite being marked "delivered" by USPS. At that time, Ward 8 residents wrote to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton about mail problems at the Congress Heights station. Norton then reached out to the USPS, and the organization replied, explaining a conflux of issues stemming from a personnel shortage and increased mail volume, both due to the pandemic.

Now, in August, some residents are still seeing a major delay in mail—One person even said they haven't received mail in two months, according to ABC7.

"We appreciate and encourage customers’ feedback," the USPS statement continued. "Customers with questions about mail deliveries can reach a postal representative by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS, online at www.usps.com, or through Twitter via @USPSHelp.”

How has your USPS mail been arriving? Have you seen makor delays? What do you think about the situation? Comment and join the discussion!