'I don't know what's going to happen': East Topeka apartments will lose HUD assistance
Dec 12, 2024
TOPEKA (KSNT) - Tenants at an east Topeka apartment complex will lose federal housing vouchers in 2025.
Residents at Timberlee Apartments received a letter from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that states the department will stop the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract on March 1, 2025.
"I don't know what's going to happen," Timberlee Apartments tenant Ramona Counts said. "All I know is, we're going to have to wait and see."
In the letter, HUD said this is happening because of "the owner's failure to remedy physical deficiencies identified by HUD's inspection of the property, to remedy major threats to health and safety at the property, and to maintain the property in decent, safe and sanitary condition."
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Ramona's son, Morgan, read the letter and became worried about the future of his mom's apartment.
"It made me feel like they was going to kick my mom out and put her on the street, and that's not cool," Morgan said. "She's on time with her rent every time, pays her bills on time and it's been like 5 years."
This comes after the City of Topeka found residents living in "unsanitary conditions" and facing carbon monoxide leaks in August. Ramona told 27 News this message for everyone moving forward.
"They need to stop making everyone stressed out and do their damn jobs," Ramona said. "I don't want them to replace me way out in timbuktu so, yeah I want to stay on this side of town, not somewhere else"
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The City of Topeka shared a statement with 27 News Thursday regarding the recent letter:
The City of Topeka was recently informed that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is stopping the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract to Timberlee Apartments effective March 1, 2025. This action is being taken because of the owner’s failure to remedy physical deficiencies identified by HUD’s inspection of the property that create major health and safety threats.
The City of Topeka Housing Services Division stands ready to help connect residents to the appropriate contact at HUD that can provide more direction and answer questions related to the property. Housing Services will continue to assist individuals in need with our current programs and connect households to resources.
Situations like this is why the City of Topeka is advocating at the state legislature for the authority to require mandatory inspections when a property receives public funds.
Statement from City of Topeka
KSNT 27 News made calls to Arnold Groups, a Texas-based company HUD appointed to be in charge of the Timberlee Apartments, but nobody called back.
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