Congressman Cohen Welcomes HUD’s Decision to Relocate Residents of Tulane and Warren Apartments to Safe, Clean, Affordable Housing

MEMPHIS, TN – February 8, 2016 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today welcomed the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) decision to abate the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract of Warren Apartments, Tulane I Apartments, and Tulane II Apartments due to owner’s default. Warren and Tulane apartments are owned by the Global Ministries Foundation (GMF). Pursuant to the HAP Contracts and HUD regulations, GMF is required to maintain the units in a decent, safe, and sanitary manner but has failed to do so. GMF is now required to cooperate with HUD’s procedures for abatement and relocation of the residents of these properties to safe, clean, affordable housing. A copy of the letter that HUD sent to the Global Ministries Foundation can be found here.

“I have been very disturbed by the substandard conditions many Memphians have been living in at Warren and Tulane Apartments, and I am pleased HUD is taking a firm stance on this,” said Congressman Cohen. “HUD needs to now find safe, clean and affordable housing for these residents.”

In April of 2015, Congressman Cohen wrote to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro regarding problems at Warren Apartments. A copy of Congressman Cohen’s April 13, 2015 letter can be found here. A copy of Congressman Cohen’s April 17, 2015 letter can be found here. A copy of HUD’s response can be found here. Also in April of 2015, Congressman Cohen met with then Memphis Mayor AC Wharton, City Councilman Berlin Boyd, and then U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Memphis Field Office Director John Gemmill to discuss the actions being taken to ensure that the residents of Warren, Tulane and other public housing facilities operated by the Global Ministries Foundation to ensure that residents have safe, clean, well-maintained and livable apartments in which to live.

Earlier this week, at a Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty Income Inequality and Opportunity meeting, Congressman Cohen raised the issue of unacceptable federally subsidized housing in Memphis with Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shaun Donovan. Director Donovan previously served as President Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.