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U.S. NEWS Friday 30 June 2017
American Living:

Low-income residents losing homes as New Orleans rents soar

By CHEVEL JOHNSON siana Legal Services who
Associated Press worked with Esnault.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Low- The length of subsidies in
er-income renters in New New Orleans varies from
Orleans are facing the loss development to develop-
of their homes and uncer- ment, ranging from as little
tain futures as affordable- as five years to 15 years or
housing subsidies start to more, said Ellen Lee, direc-
expire in a city that already tor of housing policy and
has experienced steep community development
rent increases and stag- for Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s
nant wage growth. administration.
Michael Esnault, a 69-year- Affordable-housing subsi-
old disabled veteran, says dies for about 1,200 units
he searched for about will expire in 2021 with
three months before find- another estimated 5,000
ing a new place after the scheduled to expire 10
management at his for- years later, she said.
mer complex, American Since Hurricane Katrina hit
Can Apartments, told him in 2005, rents in New Or-
his rent would double to leans have increased by
$1,400. He was one of doz- about 50 percent, while
ens at the complex affect- wages have only risen by
ed by the loss of the subsi- about 2 percent, Hill said.
dies. Michael Esnault discusses his plight, as he is being forced to move, inside his apartment at the Three out of five renters
“We looked at a place American Can Apartments in New Orleans. The 68-year-old disabled veteran says he searched spend more than 30 per-
not too far from here, a for about three months before finding a new place after the management at his former complex, cent of their income on
two-bedroom shotgun,” American Can Apartments, told him his rent would double to $1,400. He was one of dozens there housing costs, she said.
he said, referring to a long, affected by the loss of affordable-housing subsidies. Orleans Parish residents
narrow home found in (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) must earn at least $18.54
many New Orleans neigh- You pay your rent, cause based Audubon Commu- March, but the complex is an hour to afford a two-
borhoods. “They were ask- no trouble. They should just nities Management. Attor- allowing those affected to bedroom home as of this
ing $1,900 a month. I can’t let us stay.” neys for the complex didn’t stay until the end of Octo- year, according to a 2017
afford that. I know many Housing advocates say respond to a request for ber at the reduced rates, report by the National Low
more who can’t, either.” Horton’s and Esnault’s comment. said Hannah Adams, an at- Income Housing Coalition.
Carolyn Horton, 74, said she plight is indicative of a wid- The lower rents expired in torney with Southeast Loui- q
has yet to find a new place er problem facing tenants
and plans to temporarily across the city.
move into her grandson’s “American Can is just the
home in New Orleans. She tip of the iceberg,” said
said she’ll probably end up Breonne DeDecker, a pro-
moving in with her son and gram manager for Jane
his family in Denver. Place Neighborhood Sus-
“Getting old ain’t fun,” tainability Initiative, a non-
Horton said. “I’m an inde- profit that works to increase
pendent girl, still kind of affordable housing options
healthy, but no one wants for low- and moderate-in-
to hire someone my age. come residents.
Everywhere I’ve looked Cashauna Hill, executive
has just been awful. My director of the Greater
rent was $810, but they New Orleans Fair Housing
want to raise it to $1,100 Action Center, described
or $1,200. Now I have to the situation as a “very-
income-qualify for a new large-scale problem” that
place and with just under will affect the city for years.
$700 in Social Security, A former can manufactur-
that’s not easy.” ing plant was transformed
For several weeks, she into the American Can
said, she’s been packing Apartments in 2000 with
up her 600-square-foot the help of $39 million in
(55-square-meter) home of public resources, including
three years in order to be bonds and grants. In re-
out by Saturday and get turn, developer HRI Proper-
the larger of the buyout ties had to keep at least 20
incentives negotiated with percent of the 268 units at
the apartment complex affordable rates when the
when the subsidies expire. property opened a year
“I could live in an efficien- later.
cy, but I haven’t been able In 2013, HRI Properties sold
to find anything. It’s just not the complex to Georgia-
good how they treat you.