Housing Authority Of Bexar County
HABC Uses Threats and Refuses To Correct Lies and Misinformations Presented by Fired Executive Director to the Detriment of Public Trust

This letter is self explanatory in addressing an epidemic in the housing industry. I would be interested in finding others facing similar situations?

To whom it may concern:

Please allow me to introduce myself: I am a Published Writer; West Point Graduate; Retired and Disabled Veteran with over 25 years of military service; former president of a Chamber of Commerce in Seattle, Washington; former Community Involvement Program Coordinator for the Washington Corrections Center and a Certified Public Chronicler. With the experiences that I have listed, I also find myself in a condition of being homeless, which is one of the reasons that I find it necessary I write this letter of concern on the practices of HABC. As you can tell from my qualifications, I have a little common sense; thus, I pray that you will seriously consider the contents of this letter. It is an attempt to correct an injustice that I wholehearted believe to be systemic at a time when real people facing real issues within real communities find themselves struggling to make ends meet.

This letter comes after several calls and visits to the Housing Authority of Bexar County to establish a hearing with Interim Executive Director, Ms. Michelle Valadez, for the purpose of clarifying our status with the lease housing assistance program. It should be noted that my mother, Rita [Last Name Removed], and I have participated in several hearings with the disgraced executive director, Laura Morales, who indicated that my mother's status within the housing assistance program would be changed due to my status as an occupant within the residence; the housing authority's errant information on the amount of income that I receive through Social Security Disability; the Housing Authority's intention to reduce my mother to a one bedroom unit instead of the established current residence, and HABC's apparent unwillingness to adhere to stipulations has resulted in an entrapment, which demands the scrutiny of its sponsoring agencies and the public. Several phone calls/visits to the agency since July 23 have gone unanswered by current decision-makers within the agency, including visits to leave written requests for hearings on August 7 and August 20.

I will attempt to speak to situations that HABC has made use of to deny housing assistance to a deserving individual. Note that I have no recourse for my own well-being and am obligated, at this point in my life, to assume the status of a homeless disabled vet. It is further my intent that this letter will generate a continued investigation into the shameful actions of HABC, as I believe that race has had its impact in the initial decisions of the authority to remove my mother from an established residence to an uncertain future. It continues to define the on-going relationship between my mother, myself and the HABC, as the HABC has requested and received accurate information to make a decision, yet the organization fails to do so, using the spectre of time to crush our resolve in pursuing this matter.

Initial contact

At the request of my attending Veterans Affairs doctor, I had presented the HABC a VA doctor's note stating the need to be with a family member that could assist me through several mental and physical health issues that still mark my life. It was somewhat fortunate that my mother was going through several health issues of her own at the same time. This situation saw a mutual opportunity for me to provide a live in assistance to my mother while she assisted me with overcoming circumstances that were placing my life into a downward spiral. For more than a year, I have been honored to assist my mother, Rita [Last name removed], in her dealings with the Housing Authority of Bexar County. During this period, my mother, a disabled senior citizen, had been under the threat of removal from her residence and your program at a time that she really needed help in contending with an agency that has shown a tireless aggressiveness towards removing her from the program by any means possible. I fought for my mother and provided all the information requested of the HABC to allow my remaining in the residence as a live in provider. The HABC would later return to their aggressive stance with the asinine suggestion that I could not provide live-in assistance for my mother because of my own health challenges. HABC provided a different status for me upon my mother's annual re-inspection a status that HABC would then use as a means to disqualify my mother from participation in the program.

Working on errant information

Upon re-application for public assistance, HABC outright challenged my mother's and my integrity through stating that we falsified on documentation submitted for your annual renewal through an undisclosed statement for the recent submission for continued assistance. HABC further stated that due to your non-compliance, we have no alternative but to recommend that you be terminated from receiving housing assistance effective March 30. As there has been no change to the last submission, with the exception of a decline in my mother's medical status, we found HABC's actions to be both targeted and disturbing, as the agency made a bold accusation and failed to provide the information necessary for us to refute the claim. We then requested an initial hearing to explain the non-compliance, as we made sufficient efforts to meet with HABC's agent to complete the annual renewal, and the agent did earlier contact us with the information that all was in order for this year's request.in a hearing held to counter the falsified documents, Ms. Laura Morales failed to present any proof to substantiate the claim relative to vague documents utilized by the authority. Upon presenting documents that incorrectly represented my income, Ms. Morales asked that I retrieve updated statements from my bank and the Social Security Administration to ascertain whether or not I could be carried as an additional adult with my mother. Ms. Morales certified that this information, coupled with a letter from my mother's doctors detailing the need for a room to secure her medical equipment, would justify her staying in a 3-bedroom unit. Further, my mother wrote: I can honestly state that there were several areas on the recent application paperwork that led to my unsuccessfully contacting your office and my evasive case manager for clarification prior to submission. Thus, I am respectfully asking that you send me a copy of the application that I submitted, clearly indicating any false statement on my part. This will offer me the opportunity to explain my actions or to counter your accusation. Please realize that I value my integrity and the patience that I have mustered in my dealings with your administration. Please consider this my request for an informal hearing made in writing within (10) ten calendar days from the date of this letter (February 11).

Earlier letters additionally stated: I also take this opportunity to offer concerns that [two] of my attending doctors raised in completing your confusing medical support forms. Your agency initially denied one of the doctor's request that I remain at my current residence for cause. Had I not had the foresight to ask my second doctor to complete the form, I believe that you would have used the initial statement as just cause to remove me from your program. I am concerned by your actions that amount to nothing more than entrapment in an effort to remove certain individuals from your program and from their current residence. As I am a senior citizen, residing at a location that your agency pays out far less than what you would have paid out should I have moved early January I find your methods appalling and find that you have done no great thing to earn my silence in this manner. I question comments delivered by your agent, Hermie, who indicated that my current landlord has no say in having a responsible tenant within his house. Is it reasonable that you would continue to hold clients hostage to your unfair and damning actions.

Failure to provide accurate policy information

It is now my experience that HABC operates on a very loose policy one that readily lends itself to corrupt practices. When asked for accurate information to prepare for earlier hearings, the HABC staff provided only selective information, which did not speak to the importance of the meetings. The staff also provided the limited information in an untimely manner, leaving very little time for my mother and I to prepare for the hearings with Ms Morales. The agency never provided information on rules governing its operations, nor would it divulge information relative to the race of individuals who have applied for and succeeded in the use of the Federal Funds that flow through the agency. I have long suspected this organization guilty of a form of racial profiling, as HABC was aggressive in its measures to acquire information; change participant status and then remove individuals from its program. I had opted to remove myself from the residence in order to guarantee my mother's continuance in the program; however, Ms. Morales requested all of my financials; misinterpreted the information, and placed me into a category that would cause my income (although misinterpreted) to disqualify my mother from the program. The agency now appears to be unwilling to take care of its obligations to my mother and landlord There is also an unwillingness to meet with us in an effort to correct the mess created by its former Executive Director. It is somewhat ironic that I had asked Ms. Morales of job situations with HABC. She was quick to inform me that a position was recently closed. My request came as a result of seeing no diversity among the staff at my many visits to the agency.

Failure to respond

My mother and I responded in a timely manner to each demand HABC placed on us, going through a number of circles to acquire accurate information HABC needed to make a positive decision. I find it somewhat amazing how the organization took time to misinterpret the information and even follow-on information intended to clarify any questions and concerns raised. It has become easy for HABC to conveniently dismiss any attempts to establish closure through open and honest communications? The end result of HABC's failure to respond is that my mother and I must redirect scarce resources to cover a now noticeable gap in our ability to sustain ourselves in such perilous times as these.

On several occasions, we contacted HABC offices prior to the short deadline to request information and an audience with your agents to complete your recent recertification documents. At each instance, the staff receiving the inquiries referred us back to the agent, Hermie, who handled my case file. Hermie was out sick until the arrival of the deadline to submit the paperwork. When she did respond to the calls, we relayed our confusion with, and concerns on, the form and requested an audience with staff to assist in completing the document. It should be noted that your form offered the opportunity to have the document explained to those who are disabled and require assistance. The form also indicated the threat of a felony to those rendering false information. We demand an immediate retraction of the statement and a formal written letter of apology from your agency for its shameful practices. I did not force this issue with Ms. Morales at our last hearing, but I did mention the need, for it is said that: silence is consent. We did hand deliver responses to HABC findings directly to your offices to meet your established deadline of 10 days, although, your letter arrived three days after the date written and did not allow a grace period for the letter's return to your offices. I continue to question your motivation in this matter.

Spinning a web of entrapment

While we do not take the offer of public assistance for granted, we realize that events readily occur in one's life that result in one's seeking available support from others within the community. Before I had returned to San Antonio, Texas to reside with my mother, HABC was determined to remove her from a secure dwelling, in which, she had several neighbors that were looking out for her. She had built up an amicable relationship with the current landlord in a residence that effectively had her paying much less than what she would be paying with several apartments that she considered. Doctors' letters temporarily halted the move; however, HABC threats did not reside. Ms Morales would later state that my mother could stay in the current residence for the current year on the program but would be required to leave pending the findings with my disability payments. During our last hearing, with Mr. Jerome Harris present, Ms Morales stated that HABC would pay the landlord as scheduled, pending the outcome. She did immediately address one of the requests for payment raised by our landlord while we were on site; however, subsequent promises have gone unanswered, placing my mother and myself in a compromising position. We had no idea of knowing that Ms. Morales would be relieved of her duties for misappropriation of funds. We truly had no idea that we would be left as the unfortunate victims in her wake, as HABC has asked us for documentation on the last hearing. I believe that somewhere in the records that there should be noted that the hearing did take place. And based on this fact, HABC should take measures to ensure that ourselves and others caught up in this entangled web can find a measure of closure with regards to this nightmare. Somehow we will go on in spite of the setback; however, we now challenge HABC and HUD to do the right thing by real people facing real issues within real communities. We have already redirected limited funds to guaranty that we, as a minimum, will have a roof over our heads until we can see through the current lease housing crisis, for we really do Trust In God! Yet, how telling is it that individuals that have worked the majority of their lives in support of society, now find themselves facing challenges within society while disabled; whereas, new arrivals within the society arrive to find opportunities abounding? These conditions demand that we take a new look at where our priorities rest.

As I consider the fact that placing blind faith that your staff would do the harder right in customer service proved costly, I am obligated to count the additional costs and provide the following:

Gas (6 rd trips) 63.7 x (. 22) =14.01
Stamps 11 x (. 42) = 4.62
Envelopes 11 x (. 07) =. 77
Paper 66 x (. 040) = 2.64
Ink 66 x (. 090) = 5.94
Cell Time 46 x (. 25) = 11.50
Typing 10 x (12) = 120.00
Headache = Priceless

Total: $159.48

Please contact me with information regarding a timely hearing to rectify this situation. Utilizing the freedom of information act, we also request a complete copy of our file, to include decision and hearing notes.

Sincerely,

Edward
Homeless/Disabled American Veteran with a Voice

Cc: File
Congressman Lamar Smith
State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon
Councilwoman Sheila McNeil
Mr. Scott Huddleston, Express-News Staff Writer
Better Business Bureau
Mr. Jerome [Last Name Removed]
Interested Persons

I recently sent this letter to the Housing Authority of Bexar County (HABC) and HUD in an effort to address concerns that have arisen from the HABC's unwillingness to meet with my mother and myself to address failed promises from the agency's disgraced Executive Director. To date: the agency has used misinformation to deny assistance to my mother and uses time as an unfriendly ally, as numerous calls and visits to the agency have gone unanswered, with the exception of two calls that the agency made as it closed for the day and on at the beginning of a weekend. Returned calls to this agency have still gone unanswered, prompting me to believe that HABC is using their last minute calls to cover their shameful practices.

It is my intent that other individuals that find themselves facing a similar circumstance will be able to merge their experiences with mine to paint a more accurate picture of a plague impacting our land. It is rather telling that certain agencies that have a charter to help individuals at a time of need fail to adhere to their charters. To often these agencies find it convenient to dirsregard accurate information for misinformation in denying support to those in need.

Company: Housing Authority Of Bexar County
Country: USA
State: Texas
City: San Antonio
Address: 1017 N. Main Ave, Suite 201
Phone: 2102250071

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