Housing Crisis Averted for Hammond Area Renters
Between approximately September 23-29, 2021, roughly 161 households located in Hammond, LA, received a Notice of Termination of Lease from Rich Smith Development, LLC, a management company and agent for Ridge Estates at Hammond, Villas of Hammond, and Terrace of Hammond I & II.
The notice stated that the “occupant’s unit was untenantable” because of damages sustained during Hurricane Ida. The notices provided that the renter’s lease would be terminated, and the household would be forced to vacate the premises within 15 days. Upon knowledge of this situation, the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) immediately mobilized a team of disaster housing specialists to determine our next course of action.
Within hours, LHC’s disaster team deployed an inspector to the site and began working closely with the property owner, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), and FEMA to help residents obtain alternative housing and housing assistance, as needed.
Based upon the information received, LHC’s Legal team working with Southeast Legal Services engaged the owner’s legal counsel to stop the immediate termination of leases and provide tenants information so that tenants would be empowered to decide if they wanted to terminate their lease due to Hurricane damage, stay in their home if their units were still habitable, or temporarily relocate while any damaged units are being repaired. Families choosing to temporarily relocate during rehabilitation of their units were informed that they would be able to move back into their former unit if they communicated their intention to do so once repairs are complete.
Monday, October 4, LHC’s legal team confirmed with the owner’s attorney that Rich Smith Development canceled the Notices to Terminate Lease. On Tuesday, October 5, Rich Smith staff met with LHC Compliance Director, Todd Folse; Disaster Response Coordinator, Josh Dean; and Construction Supervisor, Rick Carraway, to distribute updated communications to tenants. Additional options are being explored to provide renters disaster assistance outreach and allowing tenants to terminate leases if their unit is uninhabitable.
LHC remains committed to addressing the needs of renters and homeowners during these difficult circumstances and responding to the challenges Louisiana communities face after natural disasters. Our focus is to maintain the well-being of our citizens while assisting with the continued recovery of our State.
ABOUT LHC
The Louisiana Housing Corporation’s mission is to ensure that every Louisiana resident is granted an opportunity to obtain safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing. Each day this ongoing challenge is met by a dedicated staff of professionals who allocate federal and state funds to help low-to-moderate income citizens make their housing dreams a reality.
LHC administers federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of energy-efficient and affordable housing for working families, drive housing policy for Louisiana and oversee the state’s Disaster Housing Task Force.
