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Tampa Housing Authority Evicts Its Commissioner

Tribune file photo by CHRIS URSO

Karen Peoples showed a receipt to Hillsborough County Civil Judge Eric Myers during a hearing on Sept. 23 in Tampa.

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By JOHN W. ALLMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Housing Authority Commissioner Karen Peoples was evicted today from her public housing apartment, nearly a year after being found in violation of federal housing guidelines.

Peoples, who represents public housing residents as a member of the authority board, had lived in the unit at C. Blythe Andrews since 1984. She paid $26 rent for the four-bedroom apartment, which is subsidized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD guidelines stipulate how many people can live in certain-size apartments. Peoples has lived by herself for more than a year, and she refused three attempts by the housing authority to relocate her to a one-bedroom apartment at other properties. More than 200 people are on a waiting list at C. Blythe Andrews who qualify for a four-bedroom apartment.

Peoples said moving would take her too far away from job opportunities. She said she has been out of work for several months. Her position on the housing board is unpaid, and her eviction means she will have to give up the board seat that she has held since 1998.

Peoples tried to block the eviction last week, but Hillsborough County Civil Judge Eric Myers ruled that she had not followed proper procedures to stop the action and agreed to allow the eviction to continue.

Peoples filed a second motion Friday to stop the eviction, but it was denied.

She was escorted from her apartment Monday morning by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies. Housing officials also were present.

"I got some things packed up," Peoples said. She did not know where she would live.

Peoples was forced to leave the unit immediately and only carried out a few items, including a laundry basket filled with clothes. She will have 48 hours to return to get her belongings, otherwise they will be thrown away by the housing authority.

Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915 or jallman@tampatrib.com.

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