PUEBLO, COLORADO— Posada of Pueblo is working with the city to help Skyview Apartment residents into hotels. City council initially voted to approve $50,000 on Monday.
Council member Regina Maestri told me over the phone, she wants to change her vote to 'no.' She said she was told residents were on the streets with no rental insurance help.
She said she learned residents were required to have rental insurance to live there. Councilor Maestri said it shouldn't be the taxpayers' responsibility to house residents with insurance coverage.
"People want to act like,' oh, I'm heartless,' cause I don't want to give money," said Maestri.
Skyview Apartments management said about 10 of the 84 displace residents have expired rental insurance.
"I don't want to send the message to the public that if they let their insurance lapse, that we are going to pick up the bill," said Maestri.
To overturn the decision, a new solution or revocation ordinance must be made. Then at least four council members would have to approve that.
"We're in jeopardy, ourselves if we're voting yes and we've been given the wrong information," said Maestri.
Councilwoman Maestri said she wants to verify the funds meet the requirements of COVID-19 relief. The 50,000 dollars would come from the pool of 36 million the city got from the Federal Government during the pandemic.
Pueblo has about 10 million dollars left to delegate.
City council is working with Posada of Pueblo to distribute the funds to residents, if the grant moves forward.
Pueblo City council and Posada will regroup at next week's work session on Tuesday.
Some residents are staying with friends or family. I caught up with one now living with a stranger she met on Craigslist.
"[I] don't have many friends so I had to post online," said Sarah Ford. As strange as the situation may be, she said she's grateful."
Even as a stranger, he came to my rescue and I'll never forget him even when I'm like 80 years old," said Ford.
Ford called Skyview home for five years. She said there have always been water issues and management failed to fix them.
More than 80 families had three days to get out because of a water line break. Ford said management didn't give her any options.
"[Without] any help what's so whatever and I wish I just meant a little bit more than that," said Ford.
Now she's looking for a new home to call her own.
"I hate to say it but my dreams are kind of smashed so it's hard to have goals or expectations," said Ford.
She's just leaving Skyview without looking back. "I just have to leave disappointed knowing that they failed us," said Ford.
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