SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Renters in three apartment complexes, the Jolie Apartments, Pines Apartments, and Villa Norte Apartments, will soon have their water and other potential utilities cut off.
According to the city of Shreveport, the landlords and owners of the complexes have failed to pay bills, leading to large balances on master meters.
“It’s obvious that the problem is not going to get resolved by the landlords, so we have to take some action to protect the taxpayers and ratepayers of the City of Shreveport,” said Mayor Tom Arceneaux.
Mayor Arceneaux says the balances have reached a large sum, with one apartment complex owing more than hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In a press release, the city said water would be disconnected by May 14th, but the Jolie and Villa Norte Apartments have received an extension until May 31st. The city says this is for residents “to make necessary arrangements and explore available options for temporary housing and assistance.”
The Pines Apartments will still have water shut off by May 14th. The mayor says only seven people remain at the complex and he believes community organizations can help renters find alternative housing.
“There’s only one meter, there’s only one person responsible, one entity responsible, for payment of that bill. But we know, because it’s an apartment complex, that there will be tenants that will be affected if we turn the meter off,” said the mayor.
Bonnie Moore, the director of community development said she wanted to get involved despite these situations not being a part of her job description.
“Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our citizens in this great city of Shreveport. And if that means that we have to do things that we’re not, we have not traditionally done in the past, then we certainly have to explore any opportunity to create a better life for our citizens,” said Moore.
The Department of Community Development first did an assessment of the apartment complexes to determine the number of residents legally living there and their needs. After, they formed a coalition.
“From federal, state, and local level to galvanize our resources to make sure that we’re meeting not only their financial needs, but also any referral needs they may need,” said Moore.
Shreveport’s mayor says this situation has highlighted deficiencies in the collection process.
“And also lack of protection in our credit policies, in the words, what kind of deposits someone has to put up for a master meter and whether or not we’re going to require personal guarantees when we have these entities that we don’t, we don’t know who they are, we don’t know who’s responsible,” said Mayor Arceneaux.
The coalition will meet with the city on Monday, May 13, to discuss the needs of renters and how best to assist.
“We have to do whatever we have to do to make sure that people have stable housing, have a good quality of life, and are living in good conditions. If that means that we have to work late hours, or if we have to do extra work, or if we have to put something aside so that we can help our citizens, I think that’s our mandate and our mission,” said Moore
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