Ville Platte Housing Authority reluctantly approves 35 percent rent rate increase

The Ville Platte Housing Authority faced a tough decision Tuesday, August 5, when it narrowly approved a motion to increase flat rate rent by 35 percent for each of the next three years in accordance with HUD (Housing and Urban Development) requirements.
According to Executive Director Grant Soileau, if the housing authority failed to approve the rent increase, which is expected to affect approximately half of the housing authority tenants, it would lose part of its HUD subsidy.
Board members voiced their concerns over the drastic increase, with flat rates for a one bedroom unit increasing from $175 a month to $430.57 a month in the third year. A two bedroom apartment would increase from $200 to $492.08 a month, a three bedroom apartment would increase from $337.50 per month to $615.10 and a four bedroom unit would increase from $438.75 to $799.61. Board members believed the increase would result in many tenants simply leaving the housing projects or quitting their jobs so that they no longer earned enough income to fall into the “flat rate” rent category, effectively encouraging people to not work and live off of public assistance.
A housing authority employee at the meeting stated that while the increase is certainly significant, it is still far more affordable than other housing complexes that don’t adjust rent rates based on employment. He said he believed those who left would discover this fact and return to the housing authority.
Board member Grace Sibley said she was against the motion and that she could not approve such a dramatic rent increase on a population that is already strapped for cash.
The motion was eventually approved with yes votes from Vice Chairman David Ortego and board member John Deville. Board member Barbara Harrison was unable to vote on the motion because she is a housing authority tenant.
In other business, the board approved the low bid of $207,638 from Smith Air Conditioning for the installation of heating and air conditioning units in 10 four bedroom and 16 three bedroom units.