Mayor: Residents of Houston assisted living facility abandoned

HOUSTON — The city of Houston is responding to an independent living center in north Houston that Mayor John Whitmire said has left people without power and help since Thursday’s storms.

They look toward Independence Hall, just off Burress Street and Airline Drive. Residents say the problems at this complex are nothing new, which is why some say they weren’t surprised management wasn’t there.

We are told that the majority of people who live there are disabled or elderly, so it has been difficult for them. City leaders want to know who’s in charge.

Editor’s Note: Mayor John Whitmire spoke about Independence Hall in the video above during his press conference on Sunday.

Ice packs were present at the complex Sunday, a sign of relief for complex residents after days without power.

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“I had to sleep in my car,” resident Lucy Joseph said. “I had to take a shower and the water was cold, so it cools you down a bit, but other than that, no, it’s unbearable.”

Joseph tells us she hasn’t seen management in days. Houston firefighters were alerted to the situation on Sunday.

“They were here with no power, no oversight from management,” said Samuel Peña, chief of the Houston Fire Department. “Many of them told me directly that they hadn’t eaten anything in a while.”

In addition to this, some apartments were damaged, like that of Ofelia Villanueva. Her living room is still full of debris and the bedrooms were also affected.

“All the carpet is mojada. Toda la madera de la cama,” Villanueva said.

She said the carpet in her room was wet from the rain. His bed is too.

Mayor John Whitmire was able to see the damage on Sunday.

“I am very sorry that people have to live in these deplorable conditions,” he said. “The storm made the situation worse, but this unit was neglected for years. »

Mayor Whitmire said he plans to find a way to help Villanueva and the other residents who call this place home.

“I’m going to ask the housing department to see what options we have, certainly with temporary care,” he said. “But they need long-term care.”

Villanueva told us that her disabled son had to go and live with one of her friends. The Houston Fire Department said two people were transported from the complex on Sunday and Mayor Whitmire said he wanted the housing director to go there on Monday.

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