Safe Harbor rent increase may leave tenants homeless

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (WALA) - Safe Harbor was built with FEMA money to provide a safe haven for Hurricane Katrina victims in Bayou la Batre. However, many like Lois Bosarge said the high rent increase this month may leave them homeless.

"[It's] 'cause we really don't have no where else to go. A lot of us don't," Bosarge said.

When Bosarge and many others moved into the homes most, of their rent was subsidized by FEMA. Many like Wendy Rogers were hoping to someday own the homes they were renting.

"They were going to try to help us get to where we could start owning instead of renting," Rogers said.

Now, the residents are just trying to figure out how to come up with the rent that's due this month.

"And now it's like you got to pay $350 or you get out. Period," another tenant said.

"It's a major jump because last month [rent] was based on income," Bosarge said.

Felecia Douglas, the manager of the subdivision, said she's heard the complaints, and she sympathizes with the tenants. However, she said the bottom line is there's just no agency to subsidize the rent anymore. Douglas said FEMA's assistance has run out.

"That was just for a certain period of time, and after that period of time, we were in hopes that HUD would step in and subsidize the subdivision, which that did not happen," Douglas said.

Douglas said the city and the housing board came up with a rent schedule that amounts to half of what the tenants would pay on the open market.

That's still apparently a lot more than many of the tenants can afford.

"I'm at my wits end. We have to depend on other agencies in Mobile County to get to keep our home," Bosarge said.

Today was the end of the grace period to pay the rent without a late fee. The manager said those who don't pay could soon be evicted.