Residents In Fort Worth Affordable Housing Complex Fear Losing Home Due To Higher Rent

As they suffer from cerebral palsy, Sarah and John Dotson relocated from Abilene to Fort Worth, Texas. They wanted to find a place to live on their own without assistance from their parents.

Six months ago, the Dotsons began residing at the new Cielo Place on Race Street.

In 2021, the historic Riverside Baptist Church was remodeled by Saigebrook Development, and 91 apartments were built. The developer financed renovations through a federal housing tax credit program so that the rent would be restricted in 80 of the apartments. Thus, the complex provides affordable housing.

The Dotsons soon found themselves in a self-sufficient apartment that they love and have even met friends since moving in.

However, at the end of May, tenants found out that their rent was going up $175, beginning in July, even though it wasn’t time for their leases to be renewed. This has been attributed to higher insurance costs, increased property taxes due to increased values, and a higher median income in Tarrant County.

Insurance has almost doubled from the $36,000 estimated costs of when the construction started. An additional increase is expected in August.

Subsequent to the renovations at the building, the value of the property went up 264% from 2021 to 2022, to $6.46 million.

Another cause from the increase in rental rates is that HUD bases rents that landlords can charge on the location’s median income which was higher in the Fort Worth area.

This worries Sarah and her husband. The couple gets about $1300 per month in disability, and their rent is going from $652 to $827. She has now been forced to ask her mom for assistance even though she wants to be independent.

Dotson says she sees why rent had to go up but wasn’t expecting such a high increase.

“People say that $175 isn’t a lot of money, but it is when you don’t have it. I’m not Jesus. I can’t turn water into wine,” she said.