The city of Jackson issued the following statement.
In a decisive effort to protect residents of Bloom Apartments facing urgent safety and housing challenges, Mayor John Horhn has secured a temporary restoration of water service and expanded relocation support through a coalition of partners.
Over the last several days, Mayor Horhn has worked the phones nonstop to prevent residents from living without water. On Friday, he called U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate to request that water service be turned back on temporarily. Judge Wingate agreed, granting a 5-day restoration to give residents time to relocate safely.
The Mayor has also been in direct contact with Mississippi Home Corporation, which is stepping in to cover down payments for new apartments, the first month’s rent, and relocation expenses. These funds will be delivered through Stewpot, which continues to coordinate relocation and support services for affected tenants.
Region 6 Housing Authority is expediting the use of tenant vouchers to help families secure permanent housing quickly, while Jackson Housing Authority remains engaged in caseworker support and housing placement. Stewpot CEO Jill Buckley has organized a relocation assistance meeting for Bloom residents on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stewpot headquarters. Landlords and property owners are invited to attend and meet directly with residents in need of housing.
Blossom Apartments were declared non-compliant by Mississippi Home Corp, and residents were ordered to leave. When the eviction order was announced, Mayor Horhn saw a chance to ask for the water to be turned back on, because people living there didn’t have safe or clean conditions. Knowing the owner wouldn’t help people find new places to live, Mayor Horhn immediately reached out to local partners so they could work together to support the residents.
“Judge Wingate’s decision to turn the water back on gives us the critical time we need to help our neighbors get to a safe place,” Mayor Horhn said. “I appreciate his compassion and leadership, as well as the quick actions by Mississippi Home Corporation, Stewpot, Jackson Housing Authority, and Region 6 Housing Authority to step up for our residents.”
He added, “This has been a real team effort under tough circumstances. From nonprofit leaders to housing authorities, from local landlords to caring volunteers, the willingness to pull together for these families is what our community is all about.”
Residents of Bloom Apartments are encouraged to attend Tuesday’s relocation assistance meeting.
Kingfish note: The owner should be investigated and if cause exists, prosecuted for embezzlement.
45 comments:
Why are they waiting to have meeting
Tuesday when water is turned on through Wednesday?
Did they do the same for Chapel Ridge?
You don't hear the mayor talk about
helping the other apt chapel ridge. I
think they were gonna pull their water
meter cause a lot of water is being lost
there.
Did the owner say he had money in
reserve to help people move? Why
didn't the Ms. Home Corporation
make him use it. I dont think they
said anything about.
I think the Ms. Home Corporation could
have helped those residents move sooner.
Why did Ms. Home Corporation wait
two weeks to try to relocate the residents?
The owner should be investigated and if cause exists, prosecuted for embezzlement.
Just don't expect the Barksdalers to investigate because their only interest is in impugning Henifin and hampering his efforts.
Good Luck!
Can a lender step in to pay the water bill ?
Level it and make it a park.
It's wasn't quick action to help the
residents. The mayor and others could
have helped two weeks ago. They knew
the owner wasn't going to pay his water
bill. They could have already relocated
the residents.
Where was the team effort two weeks
ago? They knew the way the owner
talked he was not gonna pay the
water bill.
As usual, taxpayers pulling the wagon while others ride free.
I hear Canton has some lovely apartments with running water and signs that say "Now Accepting Tenant Vouchers"
Did you see Danyelle Holmes talking on Wlbt yesterday. She stayed silent when
ex mayor Lumumba let the whole city
go without water for weeks upon weeks.
They were at their beach homes on the Gulf.
Where was the help two weeks ago?
You mean the "senior national social justice organizer," aka racist in disguise?
Doesn't it appear that the mayor only got involved when the local media published multiple articles about this crisis?
The meeting with Stewpot is not until
Tuesday. Why the delay? The residents
have to be moved by the next day.
Thank god that incompetent criminal Chokwe is no longer the mayor.
Since they have 5 days KF do you know
if any residents have started moving out?
Squeeze-out every cent collected by the owner for deposits, shut down his rental property, and put his ass in jail.
KF not just Blossom owner but all apt
owners that owe Jxn Water.
We would have far fewer dilapidated homes and buildings in Mississippi if the State strengthened the laws to hold owners responsible and to make it so neighbors don't have to go to court as my HOA did to have structure torn down! That same horrid owner has another home falling apart on a nice cul de sac but they don't have resident attorneys willing to work for free or whose firms will give them the needed pro bono time.
It looks like a Lumumba shill was quick to chime in on this post.
Just get out of the way and let some grown-ups work.
The apts should be sold so Jxn Water can get their money.
Wlbt called her a leader.
I agree the mayor only became concerned when media kept reporting
it.
I wonder if the residents put up a deposit when they moved there. If he will give it back if they did.
1015…call Bridget Todd. She’s willing to take on cases pro bono!
She was on FB calling Black people who voted for Horhn "coons." She needs to be canceled.
The mayor statement says Ms Home
Corp. Is gonna pay for relocation
expenses. Wasn't that what owner
suppose to with his reserves?
Black building owner ripping off a significant majority black city and exploiting black apartment dwellers of a significant majority black population. Who is surprised?
Give Horhn credit for at least trying to do something however tardy you may think he is in taking action.
The previous Mayor looked the other way and let the entire significant black majority city go to hell while doing nothing for 8 years except flap his gums.
I hope they don't place the residents in apts. that owe Jxn Water money. I hope
they have thought about that.
Ask someone who supposedly knows to explain what Mississippi Home Corporation does and five minutes later you still won’t understand what Mississippi Home Corporation does.
It's been reported Chapel Ridge has new owner. I wonder if they paid Jxn
Water. The story didn't say.
Being an attorney cost a lot of money, I can see why it’s hard to find free attorney services. The people could read the laws and pursue legal actions without free lawyers. It cost money but not as much. Or, they can look at the home falling apart and stay angry about it.
When you push the, “at least I got mine” mentality, what do you really expect?
Why didn't YOU step in and help? Have you helped yet? good grief. Repeating yourself over and over doesn't make it any better.
Now that's a good idea. Folks out, city take it over, sell it, money to pay water bill.
Most of the residents did find other housing. It was the last 20 or so that ms home corp is trying to rehome. Can’t blame Horhn for stepping in 2 weeks late when most of the residents had decent enough sense to go get help elsewhere. The landlord/owner did a major disservice shitty job but I guess that’s also where that code enforcement for landlords that lumumba/virgi had in place as a temporary money grab failed - assuming he even registered.
Another incident that helps explain the decline of the city.
@12:09. To who?
The mayor is now asking for even more time, as some residents are still there. Hopefully everyone gets moved in the next few days. It probably is hard to find readily available apartments for all of them on a short time frame.
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