SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) – Tenants at multiple Shreveport apartment complexes are preparing to relocate.
“We have had kind of had this thing evolving, what is a financially prudent, but compassionate way to handle these situations,” Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said.
The water disconnection date has been pushed back to Monday for those living at Village Square and Southern Oaks apartments. If nothing is done, the water will only be on for two hours in the morning and two hours at night.
“During that time, we are hopeful that the tenants will be able to relocate,” Arceneaux said.
And the packing has already begun. KSLA’s Donna Keeya spoke to people packing up a U-Haul at Southern Oaks today.
“It sucks. It sucks, the way they did us. It’s sad. We’re paying our monthly rent. We hadn’t had hot water over here in two or three months, so we’ve been taking cold showers, no water, and we didn’t even know nothing about the water situation.”
Yesterday the city sent out a list of resources that could help families navigate this situation.
“I’m taken care of; I’m good. I’m getting everything moved, but some of the ones over there who are not as fortunate as I am, they’re probably going to need it, and it’s sad,” a tenant moving at Southern Oaks said.
Currently, the three at risk apartments with outstanding balances are:
- Village Square: owes $69,044 and $31.895 (two accounts)
- Southern Oaks: owes $136,543
- Northwood II: owes $205, 573
Northwood won’t be included in Monday’s shutoff while the city decides how to handle that particular apartment complex.
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“Northwood was on a payment agreement that was actually instituted by us, but it was instituted at a rate that was lower than what it should have been,” Shreveport Water Department’s Chief Customer Service Officer Donald Hobdy explained. “They had a number of leaks for a number of months that didn’t get repaired for an extensive period of time. So that’s what happened, the reason that bill got as high as it is.”
Hobdy says Northwood has been paying on a monthly basis.
KSLA also asked if the city has any other problem apartments.
“We don’t have any others racking up balances like this,” Hobdy said.
For tenants who have been paying their bills but still find themselves looking for a new place to stay, KSLA asked them what they want the city to do.
“Get a hold of these owners and make them own up to what they’re doing. They need to go to jail for what they’re doing. They’re taking our money and not taking care of the bill like they’re supposed to. I think they need to go to jail,” a tenant moving at Southern Oaks said.
KSLA tried calling the number listed online for Southern Oaks and Village Square, which are owned by the same company, but the line was disconnected.
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