DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / April 26, 2000

VACHERIE – A citizen’s complaint was lodged Wednesday with the St. JamesParish Council in regards to problems with the Housing Authority’s eviction notice policy.

“We feel our rights are being violated; we’re mistreated with these incorrect evictions,” said Dorsey. She accused the Housing Authority of discriminationin its evictions. “We ask that this be investigated. We’ll do whatever it takesto get fair treatment so we can feel like U.S. citizens.”Dorsey told the council that eviction notices were not posted properly and that she had received a notice on a Friday, with a court appearance the following Tuesday. She added the notice was not available to be viewed.R. M. Jackson, director of the Housing Authority, is to blame, accusedDorsey.

“She treats us unfair, and she runs the housing board, who are her bosses.

We’re begging, praying that somebody step in,” she added.

Aubert asked Dorsey to give the council a chance to talk to the Housing Authority board and find out what its response is before the council continues. Roussel also asked Dorsey to contact the Housing Authority andmake sure what the proper order for eviction notices are.

What the complaint boils down to is that “the residents are being made to follow rules that were never followed before,” Jackson said Thursday. WhenJackson took the job she said she started to collect the loss of $17,000 a month in overdue rent payments, from two-thirds of the tenants. “I went toevery development and for two hours discussed the policies, including terms of eviction,” said Jackson.

Every lease agreement that was signed by the tenants has the eviction policy attached, she added. Jackson also stated the eviction policy is published intheir newsletter as well as posted. The lease agreement states that rent isdue the first five working days of the month, after which the tenant has 14 days to pay with a $15 late fee. After that time the tenant is mail or handdelivered a five-day notice to vacate.

They can either pay or move out, said Jackson. If the rent is still not paid,the eviction file is handed over to the Housing Authority’s lawyer. At thattime the tenant does not have access to the file until the hearing date, set forth by the Justice of the Peace. If the Justice of the Peace warrants it,the tenant can then pay the rent plus the fine at the time of the hearing.

“People are claiming that they don’t know,” but it is very clear, said Jackson.

Jackson said she has even made arrangements with local banks for tenants to pay their rent there.

“I take the payments through the mail; I even have a slot in my door so they can pay after hours. How can you say you don’t have the opportunity topay?” asked Jackson.

Much of the complaints toward the Housing Authority and Jackson have risen due to the recalculation of the tenants’ rent, the director said. The rent isbeing based on earned income, and the Housing Authority has used governmental records to accurately assess current income.

“A lot of people are working but not named on the lease. Some havehusbands or boyfriends working at the local plants and they are not counting their income as required,” said Jackson. Jackson stands by the HousingAuthority’s actions, stating that she’s enforcing the rules that had been wavered on before she began.

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