News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Growing concerns in Van Buren County about unfair housing practices from the Sparta Housing Authority, after discussions at Thursday night’s County Commission meeting.
White County residents being placed in the Spencer housing, overseen by Sparta Housing Authority, remains the biggest concern. Family Resource Center Director Jill Bouldin alleged the authority said it was not subject to federal rules on homeless individuals.
“I have emailed the Tennessee HUD housing, not gotten a response back,” Bouldin said. “I have called senators, representatives, ‘Oh, yeah, let me get my secretary to give you a call back, set up a meeting,’ never heard anything back. I filed a complaint online with the federal HUD, got a call back from a lady. She told me that she understood what I was saying, but she was not the person that I needed to talk to, that she would email me that contact. That was back in December. And I’ve not heard anything.”
County Executive David Sullivan said he had tried to get help locally, but had made no progress. Bouldin said with housing at a shortage right now in Van Buren County, every possible option is needed in the county.
“We’ve got to come together and do something about the housing problem,” Bouldin said. “You all know property is high right now. It’s hard to buy anything. You want to rent something, these families are looking at $1,200 a month rent. Our families cannot pay that.”
Bouldin said she witnessed a family living in a horse barn. Another family of 11 living in a three bedroom mobile home, Bouldin said, while a family also calls a camper home.
In other business, Tommy Frady elected to the Van Buren County Commission Thursday night to represent the third district.
Frady replaces Brickford Wall. Wall’s resignation accepted at the start of Thursday’s meeting. Commissioners heard from both Frady and former commissioner Rip Van Winkle before voting.
Frady received six yes votes to Van Winkle’s two.
