Landlords air concerns about delays in payments

Members of the St. Francis County Housing Authority board addressed issues regarding area landlords not receiving their housing assistance payments on time. A number of area land lords and others attended the agency’s board meeting last week to voice their concerns with goings-on within the SFCHA. According to SFCHA Executive Director T.L. Jones, the delays in HAP payments to landlords began in June and continues to affect the funding received by the agency each month. "The HAP delay began in June when there was a delay in the funding that St. Francis County was receiving," said Jones. "Prior to June, we were receiving our payments in six month increments where we would just make those payments to the landlords monthly. Beginning in June, they started paying us monthly. Sometimes it is as the end of the month. I have had several phone calls with my contact at a regional office and also there in D.C. We have been on Zoom calls. I and staff have provided updates via email and phone calls." Jones told landlords in attendance that as things stand currently, they will continue to receive funding on a monthly basis for the foreseeable future. "This is the first time this has happened to St. Francis County," said Jones. "We are trying to get that rectified and trying to stay on top of how do we not get in this position again. Right now, as it stands, we will continue to get our funding within the month and then you'll be paid out that next month. For the public meeting, you are allowed to ask questions, then we will set up a meeting for you later to address those questions." SFCHA Chairman Anthony Lewellen said he wouldn't be able to answer the landlords’ questions immediately due to needing time to research answers. "What I wanted to do, being Chair, is to make sure all of your questions are answered,” said Lewellen. “I would like for each landlord to stand up, speak about what you are concerned about and speak clearly so that we can have it on the record. I can then get answers for all of your questions. We can then set up a meeting. I will give two dates and then you can tell us what date you want to have. I know you want answers to your questions tonight, but I can't answer them tonight. I haven't had time to research them for answers." Area landlord Regan Hill asked the board about when payments for September would be available to him. "I appreciate over the past month you taking my calls and talking to me about this, I want you to know that," said Hill. "I'm still a little confused about the fact that, we, my wife and I, have not received September's payment from your department. All I want to know is, as you and I talked, you said you were hoping by the 15th of September that we would be able to get September's money. Today is the 22nd. I just would like to have someone give us a date of when we are going to get what is owed now. Going forward, when can we look to receive our checks for each month following?" Lewellen stated that he is being told from housing authority representatives in Washington, D.C., that funding will be available at more regular intervals beginning in October. "I can't answer that today," said Lewellen. "As soon as the funds hit, I will know because I sign the checks. Once I sign them, then I can tell you what day you will have it. It is going to be in September. All landlords will get their money in September. What I am being told from Washington is that once that funding is in there, we can put you back on a set schedule like you were before. It may not be the first through the fourth, it may be the seventh through the 10th, but you will have a date where everybody will continue to get paid." "So, do you feel like in the near future, and I know that you may not know, but do you feel like in the near future you are going to be able to give us the time when you think September will be paid and give us the time when October will be paid?" asked Hill. "When September comes, you will know then because we will mail the checks out," said Lewellen. "After that, Mrs. Jones is going to set up a time and you will have a certain time every month." "So we are feeling pretty confident that in October, we are going to be back on schedule?” asked Hill. "Basically," said Lewellen. According to Jones, the payments changed because previously, the SFCHA had been receiving the funding in six months and now they were receiving it in one-month increments. "The reason the payment schedule changed from six month increments to monthly was because there was reporting in 2022 that was wrong that we are having to go back and get corrected," said Jones. "Until we get those reports corrected, they won't start back our six-month disbursement. At our fiscal year end, they would expense us six months worth of HAP payments. So, we had that money sitting there where we could dispense that money each month." Jones said there are 357 tenants who receive HAP payments from the SFCHA each month totaling approximately $175,000. "In 2022, when those questions arose, which I wasn't there, we are getting all of that corrected and everything pulled forward," said Jones. "June is the start of our new fiscal year so that is when they started dispersing by the month, not at the beginning of that six-month period. At least until we get those issues corrected. Monthly, we have HAP payments of $175,000. That is strictly HAP. We have at least 357 that are on the program. When they told me about this stuff in 2022, I wasn't even there, but it has to be rectified. I am taking those calls. I am talking to senators and representatives. I am working for the betterment of the community. Just like you all are on my neck, I am staying on theirs to get some answers. In order for us to keep that funding flowing this has to be fixed. Why wasn't it caught over four years? I don't know, but I am the fall guy." Former landlord Melinda Hawkins spoke to the board about her issues with the SFCHA and why she was removed from the HAP program. "I was formerly a landlord and I was kicked off of the program," said Hawkins. "I came in two times to get my HUD contract. I had a tenant come in and sign the contract and I was told to come in and sign the contract. I was told that in order for me to get my contract, I had to hire an attorney. That happened to me twice. The second time, they called every police in town, but they couldn't do anything to me. They said I had to hire an attorney the first time, so I called Austin (Easley) because he was your attorney at that time. He told me to come to his office. He had T.L. email it to him and said it should be taken care of because it shouldn't have happened. Then it happened a second time. Then I get a certified letter saying how much you appreciate me, but that you had met with the board and no longer needed my service. There was no reason why listed on the letter. There is a lot of crooked stuff going on and it is fixing to come to a head." According to Jones, Hawkins was removed from the program due to her not acting "accordingly" while visiting the SFCHA office. "I'll go ahead and address this one," said Jones. "When you come into a place of business and don't conduct yourself accordingly, then you have to be asked to leave. Then, the police are going to step in. That is what happened in your instance and that is why your property is no longer on the program. We are not going to go back and forth." "If I was in the wrong, then why was I not arrested," asked Hawkins. "I was smiling as usual. Why was I not arrested? Because you are lying. If I was wrong, I would have got put in jail."

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