Veterans question rent hikes and evictions at former Patriot Village
A veteran resident’s sign is captured in the sunlight at the former Patriot Village.
{Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
Present and previous residents, of an apartment complex formerly established to house eligible homeless and disabled veterans are confused, aggravated and perplexed by recent events that have taken place in what was once known as Patriot Village. Located at the corner of S. State St. and W. 6th Ave., the two apartment buildings and duplex are now known as The Bellamy on Sixth. After changing ownership three times in recent years, they’re currently owned by Investwell Properties, LLC, based in St. Petersburg, FL with an office in Winston-Salem.
{Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
In 2012, it was announced the Lexington Housing Redevelopment Corporation (then a tax-exempt nonprofit subsidiary of the Lexington Housing Authority) had been approved to receive $500,000 in funding from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) Board of Directors for its Davidson County Veterans Center project. The LHRC (now known as Haven Redevelopment Group) also received $1 million in affordable housing grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. Locally, the Bank of North Carolina facilitated the process for the funds that were to be split equally between the veterans’ project and the rehabilitation of several public housing units in Lexington.
The W. G. (Bill) Hefner Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Salisbury screened eligible applicants. However, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) distributed vouchers for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing for veterans to pay their rent.
With the vouchers being based on an applicant’s income, some veterans say finding affordable housing is limited. Alan Goggins has learned firsthand. An Army vet, Goggins moved into Patriot Village in 2017. This summer, he said communication with veterans was lacking and with very little warning he was sent a letter informing him his rent was going to increase $300 after his lease expired. When he explained he was a veteran, Goines said he was told, “sorry about that.”
Goggins and another tenant, Royal Murrill, said they learned after Patriot Village’s acquisition that it had previously been in foreclosure. Davidson Local contacted NCHFA to request documents regarding this claim. The NCHFA stated, “The Agency’s servicing department was notified on March 25 (that Patriot Village had entered into foreclosure) and we’re unable to say how Patriot Village arrived at that point.”
When asked by Davidson Local when the NCHFA was notified of the transition of new ownership, the agency issued the following statement: “We’ve not been officially notified. In the process of attempting a monitoring review in June 2021, our Asset Management team was told that ownership had changed, but we were not told of the foreclosure at that point. We provided the ownership transfer form to collect the current ownership information. On 7/7/21, we were told about the foreclosure and Patriot Village refused to provide the completed owner transfer form.” Additionally, the NCHFA has received no requests to change the occupancy status (veteran housing) of the former Patriot Village.
Last month, Goggins moved out of the apartment complex. With few options, he was initially worried if he’d secure a place to live. “It was really difficult to find somewhere to move. I got here through the VA, through the HUD vouchers four years ago. It seems like they dropped the ball. They said something about due to the pandemic, if all else fails, they’ll look for transitional housing for me. They asked if I was willing to relocate to Greensboro or Charlotte.”
Three weeks ago, Goines moved into another apartment in Lexington. Although the process was difficult, he thanks “God for a ram in the bush.”
Murrill, however, is in a battle with the building’s ownership. According to documents provided to Davidson Local, Murrill signed a 27 month lease in November 2020 with Haven Redevelopment Group to pay $400 monthly. After Investwell acquired the complex, the 17-year Army veteran, who served in Desert Storm, received a letter on his door. “They typed up a letter and said they weren’t honoring HUD, Section 8 or vouchers. We were blindsided.”
Murrill said his first conversation after the transaction was with Robin Brady (her business card lists her as owner and broker for Coastal Properties of Myrtle Beach). As reported by Murrill, her office is in Winston-Salem, which is where rent checks are mailed. While on the phone with Brady, he stated she told him Mr. John (last name unknown) said he was going to have to move because his rent was going to double. The exchange prompted Murrill to begin to do his “homework.”
He’s reviewed his lease agreement multiple times and consulted with a realtor regarding the language in the contract. Murrill is adamant his current contract should be upheld. Having received two eviction notices from Investwell, Murrill is infuriated with what is happening currently. “I don’t know what the investment group is trying to do. We were invited to come live here because it’s for veterans – homeless, on the street, those trying to reinsert themselves back into life with a sense of independence. They don’t want to honor my lease and are trying to force me into breaking it.”
In conducting his research, Murrill found that Haven Redevelopment Group put “$1.2 million into getting these buildings up to par – for veterans, so homeless veterans can have somewhere to call home. This man doesn’t give a (expletive) about us being veterans. All he sees is the bottom line.”
Murrill’s says that no agencies have been of assistance to him or his fellow veterans during this ordeal. The pandemic took a toll on his finances and he recently began working again as a truck driver.
{Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart/Davidson Local}
The Lexington native noted he is the only veteran in the buildings who works. Others receive vouchers and have case workers. Murrill is still waiting on benefits.
“He’s talking about all these improvements. All he’s done is put some bushes out front and beautify the place. That doesn’t suffice him going up $400 on my rent for a small, two-bedroom apartment.”
Davidson Local has reached out to Brady about Murrill’s claims. At the time of publishing, no response has been received.
In the meantime, Murrill is prepared to stay engaged in battle. “I don’t want to go anywhere. This is me on a vengeance. If it’s a fight he wants, I’ll fight it. I haven’t received anything from the court. I haven’t been to court. I ain’t got nowhere else to go. That’s my home. I’m going to fight for my home and veterans.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Davidson Local for more information.
