Saturday, February 21, 2015

OHA: Rules for Tenant Transfers Change by the Minute...If Need Be



In February 2012 a new family moved into unit #6.  After 2 years of  being homeless and living in their car, they were thrilled to have a conventional roof over their heads for a change.

During the first month in their new home, it became increasingly more apparent, that our new tenant was having some serious trouble breathing, due to respiratory disease.  In fact living on the third floor proved to be more of a detriment to them by the day. 
  • The tenant blacked-out and fell several times as he climbed the stairs to his unit;
  • Light-headedness, shortness of breath and dizziness became a daily battle for him;
  • A small but serious stroke also took its toll as the tenant slowly became a shut-in.
Under different circumstances, any one of these events could have had catastrophic consequences for him, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.

Coincidently during their first month, we had another unit become available. The unit was of the same size that this tenant was qualified for, and it was also on the first floor. The tenants inquired about moving to that unit and I advised them to contact Ogden Housing immediately.

REQUEST DENIED
The Ogden Housing Authority initially denied the tenant's request to transfer to the ground floor unit, going as far as telling them that which devastated them, and left them feeling trapped living in a unit that was totally inadequate for their needs.

NO REASON TO DENY OTHER THAN CORRUPTION

The newly available unit, was exactly the same size and layout, and rented for the same dollar amount each month as the tenant's current unit.  For all intents and purposes, the units were identical, with the exception of the unit number. (#6 vs #7), and the floor they were on.  Had the Ogden Housing Authority made a typographical error and entered unit #7 instead of unit #6 on their paperwork, it would have taken them exactly the same amount of work to correct. These tenants were being denied a transfer, for no other reason than the OHA exercising its habit of abusing their power.

By the end of February, the tenant's health had deteriorated and he was in constant respiratory distress. He had blacked out and fallen a number of times, just trying to get up the stairs to his apartment and he ultimately suffered a stroke. 

On March 7 2012, I contacted the Ogden Housing Authority at the tenant's request and asked their agency to approve a transfer, which they finally agreed to, on the condition that the tenant provide them with his physician's written recommendation for the transfer, and a description of the disability. 

To ensure that the OHA received everything they were requiring to process the transfer, I personally delivered the documentation to them on March 23.


On March 26, Robeka Sessions at the Ogden Housing Authority acknowledged her receipt of the health are documents, stating that transfers within the same property are only done on the first of the month.








 Lorenzo' 2/2/12. I'm

Stacey out 2/5/12 ou















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