23-05-2025
Message to Danforth and Hudson Ridge residents: There's no eviction
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Thursday morning, Theodore Austin was watching his belongings and those of others who had lived with him at Danforth Towers on Rochester's west side being loaded in U-Haul trucks.
This, after he was told a few days ago the state program, Enriched Housing Program, or EHP, which allowed him to stay here was pulling the plug and he had to leave by this weekend.
'Throwing an old person out who can't walk, can't do nothing, I don't know,' Austin said from his wheelchair.
Turns out, while it's true Austin and many others did have to leave, the state has come in to relocate them to other facilities that can offer the services they can no longer receive at Danforth and Hudson Ridge.
'I got to follow the truck, I guess,' Austin, who has lived at Danforth for 8 years, said, gesturing to the moving truck. 'I'm waiting for a ride to come take me to where I'm going.'
Shawn Burr, Executive Director of the Rochester Housing Authority, which operates Danforth and Hudson Ridge apartments says this is a state issue and the state should have made it clear to the 100 or so seniors affected by this that they're not being evicted.
While some did have to be relocated, others, Burr says, can stay at Danforth and Hudson Ridge by getting moved into a new program.
'Some have left and we're trying to work and communicate so we can find out who's coming and who's going and who can stay because we want to focus on who can stay and provide the resources necessary for them to stay,' Burr said.
The state, meanwhile, said it had to end the program that allowed all these folks to stay at the towers because of poor conditions inside, while RHA points the finger at Family Services of Rochester, which the state was using to run the program, saying that organization did not pass along the rent money the residents had paid them.
News 8's Adam Chodak: Are you suspicious?
Burr: 'Oh, absolutely, as I'm sure everyone is…'
Chodak: What do you hope happens in that regard?
Burr: 'I hope there's an investigation done and whoever needs to be held accountable is held accountable. We're talking about residents in need and their lives, right? And their money, where did it go?'
News 8 reached out to the State Attorney General's Office of see if there's an investigation and so far there's been no response.
There's also been no response from Family Services of Rochester, which is based in Fairport.
Legal Assistance of Western New York is helping residents impacted by this.
If you or someone you know would like their help, call (585) 325-2520.
Here's Rochester Housing Authority's most recent statement on the matter:
'We would like to be clear that the Housing Authority is not evicting Enriched Housing residents. This action is being coordinated by New York State Department of Health.
This is extremely concerning and a disregard for the residents of our facilities—people who rely on these services for their basic safety and well-being.
The Housing Authority has been working in good faith with Family Services for months to recover six figures in back rent that they were supposed to pay on behalf of the residents who paid them to do so, yet our outreach has been met with silence or vague responses at best.
To now turn around and give us just one week notice that the program will be terminated and the residents relocated is not only outrageous—it's reckless and inhumane.
Let's be clear: The Housing Authority has been doing everything in its power to prevent this crisis. We've been working diligently with the New York State Department of Health, our legal team, and yes, Family Services, trying to reach a resolution. We are furious that given this short timeframe, we are in this position but will continue to work with residents to ensure their housing needs are met.'
Here's the State Department of Health's latest statement on the issue:
'In our role as regulator, holding operators accountable for the quality of care they provide remains a top priority for the New York State Department of Health. Our primary concern is the health and well-being of the impacted residents at these two Enriched Housing Programs.
Recent surveys of the Hudson Ridge and Danforth Towers Enriched Housing Programs identified violations that posed immediate risks to resident health and safety. As a result of these findings and because the operator agreed it lacked the resources to correct the identified violations, the operator initiated an expeditious emergency closure of the Enriched Housing Programs and the transfer of residents to appropriate placements that could serve their needs.
This action in no way impedes the residents' right to transition to the setting of their choice. Department of Health staff have been and will continue to be onsite at both facilities throughout the closure process to ensure safe and appropriate transfers and that residents receive appropriate care during the transition. Residents have and will continue to have the right to choose their homes.
We cannot comment on the financial status of Family Services of Rochester.'
Here's State Senator Jeremy Cooney's statement on the matter:
'The most important factor is that the impacted residents of Danforth Towers and Hudson Ridge Towers are allowed to stay in their homes. I thank the Rochester Housing Authority for making it clear that these residents are not being evicted. I am currently in communication with the New York State Department of Health to determine what occurred here and what the next steps are to ensure long-term housing stability for these members of our community. Should any residents of the towers have further questions or concerns, I encourage them to contact my office for assistance.'
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