Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 8-17-18

Local
HUD Responds To Councilman’s Request For Extension
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last month, the Depart- ment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in- formed 170 families living in the Tampa Park Apart- ments that they would have to move. The residents were given 30 days to relocate without any assistance.
HUD officials alleged the complex has not passed in- spection for the past 4 years. As a result, three con- cerned citizens took the issue before City Council last week.
After hearing the news,
Ms. Connie Burton, Bishop Michelle Patty,
requesting that the resi- dents be given time to relo- cate. His letter was answered last week.
Last week, Ruben J. Brooks, Regional Center Director, Multifamily, Southeast Region of HUD responded to Councilman Reddick’s letter.
In the response, he stated that the deadline for the resi-dents of Tampa Park Apartments to move has been extended.
“Tenants currently re- ceiving assistance will not be required to relocate until all relocation benefits and assistance has been made available to them. This in- cludes financial assistance,
assistance locating suitable housing and tenant protec- tion vouchers, which were made available effective Au- gust 1, 2018.”
The letter further stated that, “The Tampa Housing Authority, who will admin- ister the tenant protection
vouchers, a/k/a Housing Choice Vouchers, has been an invaluable partner in this transition and has been in communication with the tenants, gathering informa- tion necessary to issue the voucher,” Brooks stated in the letter.
FRANK REDDICK City Councilman
and Tony Daniel all spoke on behalf of giving the resi- dents more time.
In response, City Council
Chairman Frank Red- dick sent a letter to HUD
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A