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Portsmouth Redevelopment & Housing Authority gives update on Swanson Homes

Posted at 10:58 AM, Nov 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-07 18:37:10-05

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Donnell Brown, the interim executive director of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, is holding a news conference today to give an update on Swanson Homes.

They're addressing dozens of complaints, after 98 residents and 125 children were told to move out of their homes after Hurricane Matthew damage.

The news conference comes weeks after Hurricane Matthew hit Portsmouth, leaving Swanson Homes residents without water and heat.

Many of the units on the first floors were destroyed and residents had concerns about mold.

Residents are now living in hotels, paid for by the authority.

"We did not turn our back on them at any time. We took every effort we could do to bring things back to normal and supply them with things they need," Brown said.

Residents say they had a meeting with the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority and were told they are moving to the Lincoln Park community, or they can terminate their lease.

Several homes were also recently condemned.

Community advocates also showed up to question the PRHA. They say the authority hasn't moved fast enough.

"They may be doing what they're supposed to do, but they're moving slow. We're talking about a month now. It shouldn't take that long. We aren't in a third world country. This is supposed to be the United States," Angela Rheins told News 3.