Comments recently from Dianna Westmoreland, the chairwoman of the Allen White Housing Authority caught some people by surprise, or worry, as told some news that had yet most did not know yet. Specifically, what the Department of Housing and Urban Development is doing, nationwide, with older housing authorities.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, she came by to clarify what she said.
“You cannot get much more bureaucratic than HUD. And, HUD is basically plowing down all of the older housing authorities, and selling the land, while displacing the people who live there. We have 50 apartment units, and we do not want that to happen,” said Westmoreland. “So, we are very systematically working with our monies to completely re-modernize the apartments.”
She said updates include stabilizing the foundation, and giving interior upgrades, such as new bathrooms, and counter tops.
But, they want to get more done, to keep the 40 year old building alive and thriving with people, and that is a challenge.
“We are moving new people in on a regular basis, and we would like to get, in at least the next three years, all of the units re-modernized. We have been juggling the last couple of years…because we have to get people out, so we can go put a new floor in, etc,” said Westmoreland.
Current occupancy is around 41 units, with 6 units scheduled to have people move in soon.
