A group of Village Court residents are defending the Mattapoisett Housing Authority, which has been rebuked by the state for issues related to tenant relations, maintenance, budgets, and business practices, saying comments of a former resident, and the daughter of a current resident left them “outraged.”

More than a dozen residents have expressed dismay at the way the situation has been portrayed in local media.

The outpouring of support comes in the wake of a Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) letter sent to housing authority Executive Director Louise Sousa on Aug. 30.

DHCD Associate Director of the Division of Public Housing and Rental Assistance Lisbeth Heyer faulted Sousa for removing a work computer, for working unscheduled hours, and for lengthy waits to make repairs.

The letter stated that there have been “many disconcerting issues with the operations of the [Mattapoisett Housing Authority] that have been ongoing for a number of years.”

Those issues are outlined in a state audit published in June of this year, which is available online at DHCD’s website: www.mass.gov/hed.

Since then, Matthew Sheaff, director of communications for DHCD, said some issues were resolved.

Eileen Marum, whose mother has lived in Village Court for 31 years, and former resident Roberta Tripp, agreed with the state’s findings. For the past few years, both have drawn attention to maintenance and management issues they say exist at Village Court.

Marum and Tripp have said residents have not spoken out about those issues due to fear of eviction.

A number of residents defending Sousa and the authority said last week it’s not an eviction, but possible harassment from other residents that worries them.

“Saying people in this complex are afraid to speak up because they fear an eviction is far from the truth,” said resident Stephanie Mitchell.

Mitchell defended Sousa, who she said is being unfairly targeted said the allegations from Marum and Tripp left her “outraged.”

On Monday, 10 residents gathered in Sippican Week’s office to protest Marum and Tripp’s public comments. Alicia Sullivan, a resident and housing authority board member, also presented letters from homebound residents to Sippican Week written in favor of Village Court.

All said the culture in Village Court has changed for the worse, but not due to Sousa’s management.

“Over the past few years, several tenants have moved out due to bullying and threats from a small group,” said resident Helena Sherman.

Resident Betty Walker said the mood in Village Court has changed.

A tenant since 1999, Walker said community dinners were once common, but lately residents have been keeping to themselves.

Residents declined to identify the group they say is causing the problems.

Meanwhile, Marum has continued to push for reforms at Village Court.

“The real issue is the recent release of the report by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the state auditor that shows a ‘pattern of mismanagement’ at the Mattapoisett Housing Authority,” she said.

Marum said she has advocated for changes at Village Court for about five years. She started her efforts after a mold remediation project resulted in old carpets, power tools, and other hazards being left in Village Court hallways, Marum said.

She said she complained to the director and then eventually DHCD to clean up the halls. Marum said concentrating only on the director takes the focus away from the state report.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Housing Authority will be Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 4:30 p.m. in Village Court.