Residents of the Bellrieve Senior High Rise say that Houston Housing Authority officials promised to get them back into their homes or at least to get their personal belongings to them after fire struck the building in November. More than 200 seniors have been in temporary housing since the fire, and now several months later, the housing authority has told them that the fire released asbestos, which contaminated their apartments and belongings. Residents have been told that they will have to pay an average of $3,400 to clean the furniture and other personal belongings that remain in each apartment. Many residents say that they can’t afford that amount, and they have heard that, if they do not have their personal belongings cleaned and retrieved before repairs begin, they will be destroyed. The housing authority’s insurance does not cover cleaning residents’ personal belongings or asbestos remediation, but officials are seeking grants and donations to fund asbestos cleanup and removal.
For the full story, go to ABC Local News and the Houston Chronicle.
