AUSTIN, Texas — The vice president of the corporation that owns the Rosemont at Oak Valley in South Austin is publicly addressing the evictions at the affordable housing complex.
Rosemont's management team served eviction notices to more than 85 families on July 2.
Patrick Howard is the vice president of the Strategic Housing Finance Corporation, the nonprofit group in charge of Rosemont and 13 other affordable housing units in Travis County. While it is tax-exempt, it is not a typical nonprofit, meaning while it doesn't pay any taxes, SHFC does own some for-profit affordable housing complexes. Howard told KVUE that in 2019, SHFC purchased Rosemont.
Since February's winter storm, crews have been making repairs after the apartments sustained water and mold damage.
Tenants like Kecia Prince thought the repairs were finished. So when she got one of the eviction notices, she was "extremely surprised."
"Because I was told three weeks ago by the property manager that they detected moisture in my walls," Prince said.
In the letter, Rosemont at Oak Valley cites necessary repairs from the winter storm as the reason for the evictions of more than 85 families. And while the letter includes a list of nonprofit groups and affordable housing options, Prince said that is not good enough. Her frustration level, she said, "it's at 1,000."
Fellow tenant Delores Pichardo is also frustrated because she and her two children have nowhere to go.
"So that doesn't give me enough time, even if I want to move somewhere else, because I tried to look for an apartment, but there's nothing available," Pichardo said.
Both said they weren't getting the help they need.
Howard said they are doing what they can for these residents.
"We looked at and enlisted the help of other agencies that can help with things like relocation assistance, food supplies, that sort of thing, and we are obviously working with a couple of entities now because we potentially want to see if we can actually figure out a way to house the residents temporarily. I mean, the assumption is that many do want to return, and so for the period of the construction, which we anticipate being no more than 60 days or so, maybe 90, that potentially folks can stay with a relative until such time, because obviously entering to a short-term lease is not easy. And with the supply of affordable housing in general being such a challenge in Austin, I mean, it's obviously not a good time for this," Howard said.
But Prince is skeptical and is making specific demands.
"We want to be put in suitable housing or hotels while the work is being done. We want them not to charge us for rent this month if we have to get out and not be charged late fees. We want to have access to come back if we choose to come back. We want them to be reasonable," Prince said.
Prince and other residents were expected to meet with Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez on Wednesday evening. Rosemont management sent out a flyer announcing a meeting with residents on July 14 at 1 p.m.
Meantime, they issued the following statements.
“In Travis County, we prioritize maintaining safe and stable housing for all members of our community. We are meeting with residents from the Rosemont at Oak Valley apartment complex,” said Judge Andy Brown. “We have discussed with our Travis County team and continue to explore options to ensure the more than 85 families facing termination notices will receive support and alternative housing options.”
“Safe, quality housing is a basic human right. We will continue to work with the Strategic Housing Finance Corporation, residents and the community to find safe, accessible options for these families,” Commissioner Margaret Gómez said.
Capstone Real Estate Services manages the property for the Strategic Housing Finance Corporation.
On Tuesday, July 13, the Travis County Commissioners Court will discuss how the County can work with the Housing Authority and its board to help these residents. Travis County leaders said they will be inviting the Strategic Housing Finance Corporation and Capstone Real Estate Services to brief the full commissioners court.
"The more than 85 impacted families living at Rosemont are primarily working-class," Travis County wrote in a press release. "While the current living conditions are unacceptable, the 30-day termination notice fails to provide sufficient time for residents to find alternative housing, particularly given the significant lack of affordable housing across the region. The termination notice and support for residents seem to fall short given the significant economic and social hardships caused by this potential displacement, including rent deposits, moving expenses, changing schools as we near the start of the school year, access to child care, and commute times to work, school and family."
The Housing Authority of Travis County also released a statement:
"The Rosemont at Oak Valley apartments propose a danger to residents housed there, prompting the Housing Authority of Travis County to take appropriate action.
"Rosemont at Oak Valley, like many other apartment communities in Central Texas, was catastrophically hit by Winter Storm Uri. Capstone Real Estate Services was hired as property management on March 25, 2021, and while repairs were commenced by the former management company, Capstone Real Estate Services went through proper protocols to ensure any previous repairs were completed thoroughly and successfully. After inspections were completed by a professional environmentalist vendor on the entire community, we found that moisture readings in homes that had already undergone repairs, were still significantly present.
"At this point, the safety and well-being of our residents is of upmost importance. The repairs needed will consist of tearing down drywall and flooring. Plumbing repairs to broken and cracked pipes will also need to be completed, which will leave some homes without running water or access to a lavatory. Once these repairs have been completed and units show no more signs of moisture, the build back process will then need to begin.
"Ultimately, it would not be safe for residents to stay residing in their units during these necessary repairs. These necessary repairs also come with timing constraints, workload constraints, material constraints and funding constraints as we navigate the insurance claim process. This aftermath of this catastrophic event and the necessary repairs needed has left units unsafe and uninhabitable at this time. While we understand the situation and burden this will put so many families of Rosemont at Oak Valley in; however we must complete these repairs correctly while maintaining the safety and well-being of all involved. We have given 30 days’ notice to the residents who have been affected and have provided resources for them to utilize as they search for new housing. We also informed these residents that we welcome them back once final repairs have been made as they will be placed on a priority waitlist to be contacted at that time.
"If you would like more information, please contact The Housing Authority of Travis County’s office at (512)854-8245."
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