HUNTSVILLE, AL -
Close to 200 people who call Huntsville home filled the Oscar Mason Center on Thursday. Many more outside were turned away from the jam-packed public housing meeting because it had reached capacity. It was the latest chapter in the ongoing saga that has become one big housing headache.
Many voiced their concerns about the Huntsville Housing Authority getting ready to buy some foreclosed homes in south Huntsville.
The meeting started around 5:00p.m., and went non-stop before coming to a break two hours later. The meeting space filled up quickly as close to 200 people took their seats. All of them sat poised and ready to hear just what's going on with the housing situation in South Huntsville.
"I'm hoping to find out what's going to come from all of this," said Angel Pruitt of Huntsville.
The real reason for the meeting was to talk money and lay out the plan for redevelopment within the Huntsville Housing Association. It was the HHA's annual meeting as required by law.
Those who live in the Rocket City used the opportunity as launch pad to blast off to anyone who would listen.
"I'm asking for guarantees. Can you guarantee there wont be an influx of houses, say more than two, in a five-mile area," said one attendee.
Many at the meeting made it clear they are not feeling the HHA's plan about buying foreclosed homes and reselling them.
"I just don't want the whole neighborhood to become a HUD-inspired area," said another attendee.
The commissioners with the Huntsville Housing Association listened to all of the comments from the public. None were required to answer questions by law. All five have seven days to respond.
One person who works in the housing industry on the city's south side used the microphone to squash rumors by addressing concerns about the standards with HUD homes.
"I've worked for so many complexes, and the standards for the complexes on the southside cannot touch those within the housing authority," said another attendee.
Some at the meeting called it a battle between the city's north and south, the blacks against the whites, and the classy against the classless.
A surprising moment shook the room when a boy scout spoke. No one was the prepared for what he was going to say except him.
"I read about civil rights in schools with the sit-ins, and bus boycotts. I never thought I would ever see racism in my lifetime again," he said.
While the housing headache continues to divide the city, some are trying to keep things civil, and some support was given to those who have tough decisions to make in the road ahead.
One man laid out the job description for the Huntsville Housing Authority.
"It is the job of the HHA to lift families up, so they can move the families out," said the attendee.
WHNT NEWS 19 spoke with HHA Director Michael Lundy to get a sense of what he thought about the meeting. Lundy said he believes there is a lot of misinformation and an even greater misunderstanding about his agency's programs and services. He says the only way to change that is through education.
Many voiced their concerns about the Huntsville Housing Authority getting ready to buy some foreclosed homes in south Huntsville.
The meeting started around 5:00p.m., and went non-stop before coming to a break two hours later. The meeting space filled up quickly as close to 200 people took their seats. All of them sat poised and ready to hear just what's going on with the housing situation in South Huntsville.
"I'm hoping to find out what's going to come from all of this," said Angel Pruitt of Huntsville.
The real reason for the meeting was to talk money and lay out the plan for redevelopment within the Huntsville Housing Association. It was the HHA's annual meeting as required by law.
Those who live in the Rocket City used the opportunity as launch pad to blast off to anyone who would listen.
"I'm asking for guarantees. Can you guarantee there wont be an influx of houses, say more than two, in a five-mile area," said one attendee.
Many at the meeting made it clear they are not feeling the HHA's plan about buying foreclosed homes and reselling them.
"I just don't want the whole neighborhood to become a HUD-inspired area," said another attendee.
The commissioners with the Huntsville Housing Association listened to all of the comments from the public. None were required to answer questions by law. All five have seven days to respond.
One person who works in the housing industry on the city's south side used the microphone to squash rumors by addressing concerns about the standards with HUD homes.
"I've worked for so many complexes, and the standards for the complexes on the southside cannot touch those within the housing authority," said another attendee.
Some at the meeting called it a battle between the city's north and south, the blacks against the whites, and the classy against the classless.
A surprising moment shook the room when a boy scout spoke. No one was the prepared for what he was going to say except him.
"I read about civil rights in schools with the sit-ins, and bus boycotts. I never thought I would ever see racism in my lifetime again," he said.
While the housing headache continues to divide the city, some are trying to keep things civil, and some support was given to those who have tough decisions to make in the road ahead.
One man laid out the job description for the Huntsville Housing Authority.
"It is the job of the HHA to lift families up, so they can move the families out," said the attendee.
WHNT NEWS 19 spoke with HHA Director Michael Lundy to get a sense of what he thought about the meeting. Lundy said he believes there is a lot of misinformation and an even greater misunderstanding about his agency's programs and services. He says the only way to change that is through education.
