Affordable housing residents being displaced for billion dol

housing residents are being displaced for a billion dollar makeover of properties managed by the el paso housing authority. one resident asked us if he’ll be able to return to the same apartment after it’s finished. abc-7’s darren hunt spoke with the housing authority c-e-o today and got the answer. it’s tonight’s abc-7 listens: “there’s rumors floating around and people worry … ” seventy-eight year-old davi hill has lived in this public housing apartment, on the 10th floor of the chelsea community high rise, for 15 years. he’s bracing for relocation while the housing authority does more than a billion dollars in renovations to its properties as part of its rental assistance demonstration, or rad, program. “it’s just a lot of change, especially for older people.” last weekend, hill approached me with several concerns, including whether he can return to the same property after the renovations are complete? “it’s a great neighborhood, it’ close to everything i need.” we took his concerns directly to housing authority c-e-o gerry cichon. “he has an absolute right t return to the chelsea community upon completion of the construction.” “that’s by law? “by law!” hill also wanted t know whether the renovations … with some money coming from private investors … will mean fewer affordable housing options in the future? “the tenants themselves shoul not be paying any more rent after construction is done … the calculation is exactly the same.” “he doesn’t need to worry about those apartments going to people that can pay more?” “no, those units will sta affordable for the next 40, 80, 100 years.” lastly, hil wanted to know whether he’ll have to pay utilities? “we’re putting refrigeration ai to pay utilities? “we’re putting refrigeration ai in like we all would like to have right? and what we’re going to do though is we’re going to say listen, the bill is yours … if you’re going to leave the air condition on and the windows open, you’re paying the bill.” darren hunt … “you get a stipend every year every month from the federal government, that pays for what they believe it should be … if you run more than that, it comes out of your pocket … because it’s not fair to have no accountability when it comes to the taxpayer’s cost, the taxpayer’s burden.” abc-7. cichon said six percent of our population, about 40-thousand people, live with public assistance. he indicated changes are being made because traditional public housing is a quote, “failed business model.” he added these changes will benefit el paso taxpayers without misplacing residents permanently. kelly ripa returned to live with kelly and michael this morning. she said