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Residents of South Austin apartments are being forced out of their homes
Rosemont, Oak Valley residents gather outside the rental office demanding responses after receiving notice that their leases will end on July 31, 2021.
Austin, Texas – 87 families are being evicted from affordable housing units in southeast Austin.
The residents of Rosemont in Oak Valley were informed on Friday that their leases would be terminated on July 31st due to a “natural disaster” or “catastrophe,” referring to the deadly winter storms in February.
The rental office was closed for the bank holiday weekend and dozens of residents gathered outside the office on Tuesday morning in search of answers. Nobody appeared to speak to them.
The complex was purchased by Strategic Housing Finance Corporation in 2019. Patrick Howard, director of SHFC and Travis County’s Housing Authority, said “communication” is his priority. When asked why notifications were sent over the holiday weekend, Howard admitted that communication could be “improved” and that his “words did not match”. [his] Actions.”
Howard told FOX 7 Austin that insurance claims were made after the storms. Subsequent research uncovered existing long-term structural problems and mold. “We had serious concerns about the health and safety of residents.” he said.
Howard said a construction company completed repairs after the storms botched the job and worsened conditions. “We thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s pretty bad.’ And as you keep peeling the onion, you find that there are more and more of it. ” he said.
Lisa Rheams told FOX 7 Austin that she started reporting to property management about mold and rodents in her unit in November, stating that the feces were “coming from the [air] vent. So if you’re sitting under the desk or eating or eating whatever, plink plink right on the table. Plink plink, right on you. “
Rheams lives in the apartment with her five teenage sons. She says one boy has a rash and three are losing hair. She doesn’t know why. “I’ve done everything I was asked to. I’m a good tenant. I do my best, but my children don’t have a safe home.” She said.
87 affordable housing families in South Austin. expelled
Residents have been given less than thirty days to pack and leave and are told that other affordable shared apartments are busy.
Rheams’ neighbor Linda Hernandez-Padilla lives on the property with her four grandchildren. She told FOX 7 Austin that she wanted to be a source of stability in their life and “promised” to look after them and give them a home.
“So that my grandson tell me, ‘Where are we going to live … are we going to be on the street?’ and I say, ‘No, we’re going to find out something.’ But to be honest, I’m scared to tell you how am I supposed to find out?
Rheams and Hernandez-Padilla don’t know where their families will be at the start of the school year.
“There is absolutely no intention of putting anyone on the street.” Howard said, insisting that the SHFC work with families who have not found alternative accommodation by July 31st. “Nobody wants someone to make a decision about whether to be homeless or to take action against mold.” he said.
Arthur Jiminez told FOX 7 Austin this is exactly what Howard asked his family to do in March. They have been homeless since their unit at Rosemont was deemed uninhabitable due to mold.
Jiminez says he and his wife were unable to keep a job because of their living conditions. They have a 19 year old daughter and a 3 year old son. The couple are not insured but must take medication for depression and anxiety caused by the distress. Even so, Jiminez says they can’t sleep.
“We live in a low-income apartment for a reason. We cannot afford to live anywhere else. We should get help instead of feeling more like trash, ”he said.
Howard told FOX 7 Austin that he felt “bad” about the displaced people who were displaced in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
FOX 7 Austin contacted the city of Austin Monday evening to request an interview and alerted city officials to the Tuesday morning meeting. City officials did not attend the meeting and did not honor FOX 7 Austin’s request for an interview. Instead, city spokeswoman Lashaundra Shaw responded with this statement:
“The Austin Department of Economic Development encourages residents to visit our central resource website – www.ATXrecovers.com. Thanks for getting in touch. “
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