Family still faces housing struggles 1 year after Budgetel eviction
An example of issues inside Monika Hill’s home. (Courtesy: Monika Hill)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Back in November 2022, hundreds of people who were staying long term at the Budgetel Inn and Suites in East Ridge were evicted overnight.
We spoke with several residents in the aftermath of those evictions and how it affected their lives.
One of those was Monika Hill, a single mother of five children.
In the wake of that eviction, her family has been bouncing between motel rooms and family homes.
She told us that at one point last year she told her children, “So now, I break it down to my kids, we finna eat this Thanksgiving dinner here in this little hotel, you know we’re gonna spend Christmas here y’all, it’s not happening as fast as I thought it would.”
She has finally able been to rent a home, but even that she says is turning into a nightmare.
They did find a break however with Section 8 public housing assistance, and ended up moving into an East Chattanooga home.
However, the home, which public records say was built in 1920, has a litany of issues.
Hill said, “My daughter, I just got a letter from her sickle cell daughter telling me what needs to be happening in my house. One of them is climate control. I have no climate control if I have no insulation, I can see the sunlight under my doorways so I know all of my air and heat is going out!”
Hill also says water is getting into her foundation, causing mold issues which she says creates health concerns for her children.
According to state and federal Section 8 guidelines, landlords are responsible for maintaining housing units including ordinary and extraordinary maintenance.
Additionally, according to an 11 page inspection form HUD lists on their website, insulation and water issues are two items that are part of what they use to evaluate Housing Quality Standards.
Hill says that her electricity bill is now through the roof, and is concerned her utilities will be turned off as she gets behind in payments.
She wants to see the issues fixed or her family relocated.
Hill said, “I’ve been trying to shelter these kids because they have asthma. We’ve been homeless and in hotels, and they finally have enough space, and it is full of mold!”
We have reached out to the Chattanooga Housing Authority and the landlord Hill says owns the house is renting, but we have not heard back from either.
The Budgetel reopened last year after court mandated renovations and is under new management.
