Texana Hollis, Evicted 101-Year-Old Detroit Woman, Can't Go Home

(AP) DETROIT -- The federal government now says a 101-year-old Detroit woman it promised could move back into her foreclosed home four months ago can't return because the building's unsanitary and unsafe.

Texana Hollis was evicted Sept. 12 and her belongings placed outside after her 65-year-old son failed to pay property taxes linked to a reverse mortgage and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development foreclosed on the home.

Two days later, the department said she could return. But now, HUD said it won't let Hollis move back in because of the house's condition. She had lived there about 60 years.

"Here I am, 100 years old, and don't have a home," Hollis said, rounding off her age. "Oh Lord, help me."

Department spokesman Brian Sullivan told The Detroit News (http://bit.ly/yoTW9X ) that an inspection determined the house "was completely unsuitable for a person to live in."

"We can't allow someone to live in that (atmosphere) now that we are essentially the owners of the property," Sullivan said. "The home isn't safe; it's not sanitary. It's certainly not suitable for anyone to live in, especially not a 101-year-old mother."

HUD doesn't want to pay to fix up the house, but Sullivan said the department's seeking other agencies that might help with the work and get Hollis back into her home.

"We're not giving up," Sullivan said. "We're talking with anybody and everybody about solutions to this situation, but the condition of the property is a challenge."

After hearing about her longtime friend's eviction, Pollian Cheeks, 68, offered Hollis a room at her home within a mile of Hollis' house. Hollis, who once taught Cheeks in Sunday school at St. Philip's Lutheran Church, agreed to the invitation and has been staying at Cheeks' house in the meantime.

"Polly's just as nice to me as anybody could be. She goes out of her way to help me," Hollis said, holding back tears. "It's just like living at home, but it's not my home."

Hollis's son took out the reverse mortgage for the $32,000 assessed value of the property, an option that HUD permits for the elderly. HUD took control of the mortgage after the amount paid to the family exceeded the value of the house in 2006.

CLARIFICATION: Due to a technical error, an earlier version of this story did not include a paragraph that linked to and credited the Detroit News with a quote from Brian Sullivan.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Sultry]

11:52 AM on 02/02/2012

Watch out for city and states are trying to put in place this thing called Conservatorship. It targets the poor, or those in need of some help that happen to own historical homes or a home that has significant value. Usually the home is empty or in need of repair. Savvy Contractors will come in make repairs and if the owner shows up or sells they want all the money they put in that house. It bothers me because a lot of people are old in nursing homes or have moved out of state, or may now be suffering from dementia and not even remember they had a home. I think this gives savvy contractors and the city free reign to steal Real Estate from the population that is most vulnerable may be incapacitated and can't defend themselves.
Its is theft because if the heirs, or owners had knowledge this was happening, maybe they could have made repairs at a significantly lower cost then the contractor. Example: Wood floor VS Marble Floor, Shingle roof VS Slate Roof, or PVC pipes VS copper pipes. Conservatorship is nothing but Theft of desirable property.

[Sultry]

11:07 AM on 02/02/2012

Where's that bum of a son living now?

[inkhosi]

07:04 PM on 02/01/2012

That's a good reason. Hopefully they will find her somewhere better.

[Jan Badinski]

05:23 AM on 02/01/2012

Thankfully she got her home back but I have to wonder if she wouldn't have if there wasn't a public outcry.

[Sultry]

03:15 PM on 02/01/2012

They won't let her back in that house. The story said Hud has declared the house as unsafe for human habitiation. She is living with a friend not in that house. I just wonder how that no good son of hers let the home he shared with is mother get in such run down condition. Her son should be in jail for explotation of the elderly.

[Jan Badinski]

10:16 PM on 02/01/2012

A later HP story says she was allowed to. I don't agree with it, I think that people should step up and help her out. I think her son is a real loser.

[octopuz]

05:25 PM on 01/27/2012

what made them foreclose on the house after 4 mths and how did they know how much they would lend her if someone did'nt inspect it or apraise it?. why did'nt they send letters about the taxes something sounds like loopholes bush created

[octopuz]

05:11 PM on 01/27/2012

I DO NOT KNOW WHY HUD DID NOT KNOW BEFORE FORECLOSURE THAT THE HOUSE WAS UNLIVABLE WHY WAIT UNTILL THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE A CLAUSE -OR A LOOPWHOLE WHERE THEY CAN CAPTURE THE HOUSE TO FORECLOSE WHAT WAS THE HOUSE LIKE WHEN THEY MADE THE LOAN?

[Worth Noting]

02:49 PM on 01/25/2012

RESPECT she DESERVES!!!!

SHE IS 101 YEARS OLD!!!

[Worth Noting]

02:47 PM on 01/25/2012

Folks all over the country waiting to make donations could cover the costs of a live-in nurse.

Tyler Perry said he'd help. He'd coordinate the volunteer workers.

The corporations donating materials for reality "make-over" house shows could SURELY donate materials needed for this! SEARS, LOWE'S, HOME DEPOT Can you hear me now????

It's ONE flippin' HOME! Not some huge mansion!

Are you telling me a country that put a man on the moon - can't figure out a way to repair one home - for a 101 year old elder????? Seriously?????

It's not a matter of just "finding her a place to live".

A HOME is more than a structure.
Her MEMORIES are held within THOSE walls.

HER HOME is being yapped about as "unsanitary and unlivable".
Does anyone think how that makes her feel????

FIX HER HOME!!!!

It's a matter of honor - NOT housing codes!!!!!!

Houses with foundation damage in Santa Cruz after the quake?
Jacked up into the air with house jacks - tore out old foundations - built wood forms - poured new foundations - jacked 'em down - bolted to new foundation.
Asbestos??? Leaving it alone and sealing it is considered the way to mitigate that.

FIX HER HOME!!!!!!

Would it worthy of effort if it was considered a historical site????
You bet it would!

FIX her HOME because it's the ONLY honorable thing to do.
Complete it in a month.

Hire a live-in nurse.

WELCOME HER HOME!

Treat her with the dignity, love and

[Sultry]

05:53 PM on 02/01/2012

We don't know exactly what the issues are with that house, but I do know hud has a way of messing a lot of home sales up with their demands for things to be fixed in a property before they sign off on it. My outrage is directed soley at the son. Whatever the issues are in that house, a decent man would have had fixed considering it washis mothers home andhe lived there as well. All he wanted was his inhertience and at 101, I guess she wasn't dying fast enough for him. I hope some charity fixes that house with the stipulation he can't live there or inherit the property. Let her leave it the friend that open her home to her.

[horseradishsauce]

11:50 PM on 01/24/2012

What was so bad about the house? What made it unsuitable for her to live in when she had done just that four months ago?

[Cautious]

10:21 AM on 01/25/2012

There were issues with the foundation, including lead and possibly radon, as well as structural issues. HUD wouldn't have inspected it while she was living there, which is why it wasn't discovered previously.

The good news is that, although Ms. Hollis has been determined to be unable to live without 24-hour care, she is staying with her friend Miss Polly and arrangements are already being made for the installation of a wheelchair ramp, which is being paid for by a donor. See this article in the Detroit News...

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120124/METRO01/201240437/Evicted-homeowner-101-gets-lift-from-offers-help?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[Laurie Woods]

08:58 PM on 01/24/2012

Well there are some options to assist her, and I am really pleased with how many folks are interested in pitching in and helping. Here is the link to the Detroit News article from today that outlines the help that some Huff post readers and non readers have done in order to begin the effort in helping her. It also offers info on where to donate. The fact that people are willing to help, is really uplifting! http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120124/METRO01/201240437.

[Shelli40]

08:17 PM on 01/24/2012

Good news. Just read a news article stating Tyler Perry read the story on HuffPost and contacted Ms. Hollis. Another man is paying for Miss Polly's handicap ramp! There's more but you cna read it for your self here: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120124/METRO01/201240437/Evicted-homeowner-101-gets-lift-from-offers-help?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

[Laurie Woods]

08:59 PM on 01/24/2012

Isn't that amazing, so glad folks are trying to help. I posted something similar but waiting for it to be approved. This new news really made my day!

[Siebenstein]

06:43 PM on 01/24/2012

Fannie & Freddie?

Which banksters please !

[Siebenstein]

05:59 PM on 01/24/2012

Homeowners to action !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Call the President before his State of the Union Speech and urge him to include homeowners who bought from 2004-2007 as well and that you do not accept his sweatheart deal with the banksters. I already did. Here you go :

Call the President
Phone Numbers
Comments: 202-456-1111

Switchboard: 202-456-1414

[Cautious]

01:17 PM on 01/24/2012

There are now two Facebook pages with some member crossover- please refer to these-

https://www.facebook.com/groups/352255464787407/352410671438553/?notif_t=group_activity

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Texana-Hollis/274164915981942?sk=wall#!/pages/Help-Texana-Hollis/274164915981942?sk=wall&filter=1

[Jimmy Rivera]

01:50 AM on 01/24/2012

Let Texana Hollis The 101 Year Old Mother Keep Her House. And Have HUD Spend The Money To Fix Her House. She Should Not Have To Lose Her House Bcause Her Son Did Not Pay Back.