MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People living in the Warren and Tulane Apartments were relieved HUD stepped in to get them out.
“In a way it makes me feel glad because I’m ready to go anyway,” Linda Moore said.
The relocation affects more than 300 families.
On Wednesday, there was concern over the process to qualify for the housing vouchers including credit checks and deposits for utility bills.
“This artificial and ridiculous barrier traps people into having fewer housing options,” Brad Watkins, with the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, said.
HUD held four meetings with residents to address concerns.
The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center said HUD officials told those being relocated that there would be utility assistance and help with paying deposits.
However, the monetary help depended on funding being approved.
“Kind of sad because a lot of folks don’t have that kind of money, you know, to start all over again,” Moore explained.
Residents would still be required to pass a credit check to qualify for the voucher program.
Advocates say that without MLGW, HUD and the Memphis Housing Authority working together, many families could be left in the dark.
“When the City of Memphis did the Choice Neighborhoods and the Hope VI relocations, Memphis Housing Authority co-signed for a number of these residents and worked with MLGW in some cases to either cover the deposits or to waive the deposits,” Watkins said.
Residents told WREG they have not received final details about the big move, and there are still many potential costly unknowns.
MLGW said it has not been involved in relocation conversations, and none of the city or federal agencies have contacted the utility.
WREG reached out to MHA several times on Wednesday for comment and even went to the agency’s office in person, but no one responded to our request.
