By Nicole Scott, NDG Contributing Writer
The City of Irving’s Housing and Human Services Department once again finds itself facing discrimination charges for unfair treatment of low income Hispanic and African-American residents. In what has turned into an almost two year dispute, applicants for the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Tudor Lane Project are accusing the City of racial and class discrimination among a number of other charges including intentionally discouraging them from applying for the homes.
The 27 HUD homes located on Tudor Lane are part of a city project to upgrade the once crime ridden complex and provide quality and top grade housing to lower income residents. Some of the amenities of the newly built energy-efficient homes include rear-entry two-car garages, Energy Star appliances and manicured lawns. The homes are part of a joint effort between the City and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). TDHCA provides funding for the project, funding that is and has been readily available for the city to use.
This is what Josie Sanchez, a Realtor with iRealty LLC, was told by a representative at TDHCA when she followed up on the status of one of her client’s application. Sanchez, who is representing some of the claimants in the complaint against the City, says she was told by the City’s Housing Development Analyst, Sara Ramirez the reason for the delay in her client’s property closing was because TDHCA had not provided the funds to close the transaction. However, according to Sanchez this was completely false based on the information she received directly from TDHCA. Not only were the funds available for her client back in August of 2012, but Sanchez says she was told by [TDHCA] that, “funding has been available for Irving.”
This is only one of the numerous barriers, according to Sanchez, the City erected to dissuade applicants. Sanchez says when one of her clients initially applied for a new low income townhome, she was told by Ramirez she did not qualify because she did not make enough money. Sanchez further alleges, not only did her client qualify based on the city’s own HUD income guidelines, Ramirez discourage her client from further pursuing a new townhome.
According to Sanchez, it was not until her client became upset and voiced her frustration that she was made aware of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. This a federal program that provides grants to states, local communities and organizations to purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes for rehabilitation and resell in order to stabilize neighborhoods and maintain property value of neighboring homes.
In addition, Sanchez claims the entire complaint process is designed to lock disgruntled applicants into a “revolving door with no resolution.” According to Sanchez the Housing and Human Services (HHS) own policy states that a Manager reviews complaints then forwards them up the chain of command to the HHS Director. There is no mention on the City’s website directing dissatisfied applicants to HUD if they are not happy with the city’s “resolution”. Sanchez noted, “Can you imagine how many complaints the City would have if disgruntled applicants knew they could go to HUD?”
Sanchez expressed her dismay at why Irving is the only DFW city that has never depleted its funds. Sanchez says she has worked with neighboring cities with the same HUD program and they are usually out of funds within the first six months of the fiscal year. She pointed out that Dallas’s MAP Program processes an applicant in less than 45 days. “I know the program works, other cities prove that.” Sanchez stated, “But only when the right people are in place to make it work.” Why would a city hoard funds provided by the State for residents who are qualified and eager to claim a piece of the American dream — becoming a homeowner.
But Irving NAACP founder and community activist, Anthony Bond is not the least surprised by the City’s actions. According to Bond, the City of Irving has a long history of discriminating against people of color and low income. Bond says he filed a Fair Housing Complaint against the City in 1998 on behalf of the African-American community in historic Bear Creek due to severe neglect by the City. Bond says not only were the great majority of African-Americans living in extreme sub-standard housing but the City of Irving declined $80 million in federal funds; funds that would have especially benefitted the African-American community. Bond also says he has been complaining to the city management for a period spanning over two years regarding issues of discrimination and specifically of the degradation and ill treatment of people of color by Ramirez.
“I’ve personally witnessed her speak to clients like they were less than human. She clearly does not need to be working in a capacity where she’s dealing with the public,” said Bond.
Ramirez completely denies the allegations against the City and says she treats all applicants the same regardless of race or class. She declined to answer any specific questions for fear it could jeopardize the pending investigation and forwarded the North Dallas Gazette to the City’s Communications representative Susan Rose. No one from the City would confirm or deny any of the accusations of discrimination, including whether any of the 14 houses on Tudor Lane are still available, and why only two have been closed on in over a year. They did forward the following statement from City Director, Chris Hooper:
“The City of Irving remains committed to placing qualified families in the Tudor Lane Homes. Due to the sources of funding for this project, including both State and Federal funds, the qualifications are stringent and the process may not be progressing as quickly as we would like. Regarding the few pending HUD complaints received, the City firmly asserts that they are wholly lacking in merit. Accordingly, we have responded and look forward to a satisfactory resolution,” said Chris Hooper, director of community resources for the City of Irving. “In the meantime, we continue to work vigorously to close on any pending sale to qualified families as promptly as possible.”
The City’s website promotes the Tudor Lane project as part of an effort to provide top notch housing for those seeking a better environment but might not necessarily have the financial means to afford it and welcomes applicants to apply.
“We are aggressively marketing the homes to families interested in a high-quality home in a location that is convenient to Trinity Railway Express stations, schools, parks and churches.” – Community Resources Director Chris Hooper.
“The city is working to provide prospective homeowners with the tools needed for responsible homeownership.” – Assistant Community Resources Director Vicki Ebner
However, the question many of Irving’s Brown and Black residents are posing is whether the offer extends to everyone or only certain “qualified” applicants. Applicants who don’t come from, as they say, “the other side of the tracks.”
Tudor Lane looks like a ” GHOST TOWN, ” with brand new unoccupied Townhomes and Single Family Homes waiting for someone to live in them. TDHCA also has a long history of corruption within this State Agency that needs to be noted here. God knows all the sacrifices over the years I and many , many others have made to get the City of Irving to reach out to help low to moderate income citizens of Irving to help them achieve the American Dream of home ownership. This story saddens me to no end. I pray for the City and the complaintants that God will intercede and work this out for all involved in a fair way.