HHA says progress made on senior high-rise

Court had mandated facility repairs amid residents’ criticism

One in 10 families residing in Houston Housing Authority properties — more than 900 — received Harvey-related damage to their homes, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the agency.

HHA, which faces courtordered repair mandates to the 2100 Memorial senior high-rise amid sharp criticism from its residents, also confirmed Wednesday that efforts to comply with a temporary injunction are in progress.

“HHA has received the judge’s order and is making every effort to comply with the order. HHA remains committed to providing affordable housing and seeking support to repair throughout the City of Houston and at 2100 Memorial. For legal purposes, HHA is not at liberty to discuss specifics due to ongoing litigation,” a statement said.

Lease termination notices

The basement and first floor of 2100 Memorial flooded in the lateAugust storm, but residents never lost power, and water service was restored after a few days.

On Sept. 18, tenants received five-day notices of lease terminations, and the authority offered to pay moving costs. The surprise announcement caused panic among the residents, who showed up by the dozens at a City Council meeting the next day. Mayor Sylvester Turner said HHA officials mishandled the situation.

Later that week, HHA CEO Tory Gunsolley told residents that the building’s compromised electrical system was too dangerous for them to remain.

More than a dozen residents sued on Sept. 26 to prevent the lease terminations and to require the housing authority to repair the building. They won a temporary injunction last week.

In his Oct. 27 order, Harris County Judge Daryl Moore gave HHA 10 days to determine whether flooded transformers “pose an actual or potential safety threat to warrant repair or replacement.”

If so, they must be fixed within 45 days of the order. The authority also has a 45-day deadline to fix deficiencies to the fire protection and sprinkler system identified in a Houston Fire Department inspection report dated Sept. 8.

‘Totally unusable’

The order also restrained HHA from terminating 2100 Memorial leases or treating the contracts as if they had been ended unless the authority can establish grounds for lease terminations under the state law for landlord casualty loss.

Moore also offered a scathing commentary about the HHA CEO’s testimony, calling him “incredible” after a lengthy hearing last week.

The court found that Gunsolley’s assertion that 2100 Memorial was “totally unusable” was a “subjective determination” that was used to justify the forced removal of residents.

About 185 low-income seniors live at 2100 Memorial. Hundreds more families in public housing were displaced by the storm.

“During Hurricane Harvey, seven HHA properties incurred significant damage, impacting over 950 families,” the authority’s statement said. “With one in 10 families receiving damage to their public housing unit, HHA’s focus is to provide both short and long-term solutions to fulfill its mission of improving live(s) by providing quality, affordable housing option(s).”