Residents of an apartment building in Lower Algiers say they were abandoned after Hurricane Ida was struck by lightning, and the property manager offered no assistance to 40 or so low-income residents. Many are elderly and have serious health conditions that were aggravated by the scorching heat after the storm. Power was restored on Thursday, but people suffering from the heat are demanding answers.” Boyd Manor resident Tyrone Weber said, “We went through a lot of pain and suffering, couldn’t sleep, never got to sleep or anything . Residents relied on volunteers from the local community who brought them food, water and ice. Some volunteers were inside the apartments of the building and shared videos showing water on the floor and leaking around the window Volunteers repaired the patchwork, but residents say they haven’t heard of a long-term solution from the property manager. The landlord didn’t come here, not a day. We were without lights and everything for 10 days, And she’s going to be here today that she wants the rent,” said resident Yolanda Lewis. National Baptist Housing and Economic Development is the owner of Boyd Manor. Its president is local pastor Willie Gable, who told WDSU Investigates to the Tennessee-based company, Taliafarro Inc., which manages all of its buildings. Gable said he had left New Orleans for the storm and had not been to Boyd Manor since the storm. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development financed Boyd Manor and paid 70% of the rent for tenants who must qualify as low income. This meant that residents did not have the means to evacuate on their own. Rosalind Swinger, a representative for Taliafarro Inc., told WDSU that residents of Boyd Manor were given information through the city’s 311 service to arrange for their evacuation. Only one resident chose that option, Swinger said. The manager at the site has been to Boyd Manor every day since Hurricane Ida and brings residents food and water, Swinger said. Residents dispute that claim, saying volunteers and councilmember Kristen Palmer have been their only sources of assistance. One resident said the manager “broke in through the back door.” David Jones II, along with community group Algiers Proud, said the condition of Boyd Manor was poor before the storm. He also said that asset management is absent after the storm. Swinger said Taliafaro would send personnel to Boyd Manor to complete an assessment of the building damage. He said the process was interrupted due to power shortage. No timeline was given for when the repairs would be done, but Swinger said contractors would be hired if the damage was extensive. Residents should not be expected to pay their share of the rent in the immediate aftermath of the storm, Swinger said, adding that she was not aware that the onsite property manager was pressuring tenants to pay. She also said she was not aware of residents’ claims that problems such as mold, mildew and leaks existed before the storm.
Residents of an apartment building in Lower Algiers say they were abandoned after Hurricane Ida was struck by lightning, and the property manager offered no assistance to 40 or so low-income residents. Many are elderly and have serious health conditions that were aggravated by the scorching heat after the storm.
Electricity was restored on Thursday, but people suffering from the heat are demanding answers.
Boyd Manor resident Tyrone Weber said, “We went through a lot of pain and suffering, couldn’t sleep, never got to sleep or anything, man.”
Residents relied on local community volunteers to bring them food, water and ice. Some volunteers were inside the apartments of the building and shared videos showing water on the floor and leaking around the window.
Volunteers repaired the patchwork, but residents say they haven’t heard of a long-term solution from the property manager.
“The landlord didn’t come here, not a day. We were without lights and everything for 10 days, and she’s going to come here today saying she needs rent,” said resident Yolanda Lewis.
National Baptist Housing and Economic Development is the owner of Boyd Manor. Its chairman is local pastor Willie Gable, who oversaw WDSU to a Tennessee-based company, Talifaro Inc., managing all of its buildings.
Gable said he had left New Orleans for the storm and had not been to Boyd Manor since the storm.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development financed Boyd Manor and paid 70% of the rent for tenants who must qualify as low income. This meant that residents did not have the means to evacuate on their own.
Taliafaro Inc. Representative Rosalind Swinger told WDSU that residents of Boyd Manor were informed through the city’s 311 service to arrange for their evacuation. Only one resident chose that option, Swinger said.
The manager at the site has been to Boyd Manor every day since Hurricane Ida and brings residents food and water, Swinger said. Residents dispute that claim, saying volunteers and councilmember Kristen Palmer have been their only sources of assistance. One resident said the manager “broke in through the back door.”
David Jones II, along with community group Algiers Proud, said the condition of Boyd Manor was poor before the storm. He also said that asset management has been absent after the storm.
Swinger said Taliafaro would send personnel to Boyd Manor to complete an assessment of the building’s damage. He said the process was interrupted due to power shortage. No timeline was given for when the repairs would be done, but Swinger said contractors would be hired if the damage was extensive.
Residents shouldn’t be expected to pay their share of the rent in the immediate aftermath of the storm, Swinger said, not knowing that the onsite property manager was pressuring tenants to pay. She also said she was not aware of residents’ claims that problems such as mold, mildew and leaks existed before the storm.
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