On Feb. 1, 2017, Teasha Sanders and Jeff McClure of the Oxford Housing Authority sat down with city officials and local media outlets. The impromptu meeting was created to address misinformation and rumors circulating around Oxford about the Riverside Place issue.
“We wanted to bring everybody together just to make sure the information that’s circulating is correct,” said housing specialist Teasha Sanders. “We know that there is a lot of concern in the community as to what will happen to the families at Riverside Place.”
Sanders wanted to be clear in regards as to what will happen to the current tenants.
“Riverside Place will not close until all the families are housed; so the concern about the families being left homeless is not an issue,” Sanders said.
Families at Riverside Place were given a voucher that will allow them to find housing of their choice in a private sector. Vouchers range from $701 for one-bedroom housing to $1,149 for four-bedroom housing.
As of Jan. 31, 33 percent of the families that reside at Riverside Place have already found housing elsewhere. Oxford Housing Authority has also enlisted the help of local churches to help raise money for deposits for families in need.
“We see the Riverside tenants as Oxonians,” said Ward II Alderman Robyn Tannehill. “As a board, we love the idea of moving these people into better living conditions and into to different parts of the community.”
Colin Sullivan is an intern for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at cdsulli1@go.olemiss.edu.
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