If You Don't Pay, You Don't Stay

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has to meet new federal standards, and they've decided to hire a company out of Houston to oversee their Beaumont properties. People living in public housing like Concord Homes will see some changes. The name will stay the same and even some maintenance workers and apartment managers will stay, but the changes will come around the first of the month.

Beaumont Housing Authority representatives say the new Houston company, Orion Real Estate Services, will be knocking on the door and collecting rent every month.

If you don't pay, you don't stay.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is working off a limited budget and has to adhere to new standards outlined by Congress and enforced by the HUD in Washington.

They have to collect 95 percent of outstanding rent and fill 97 percent of apartments each month.

The Housing Authority will still oversee the Magnolia Gardens Hope Six program and the Section 8 Housing Program.

The only thing that will change is the Houston company will run the apartments like a private complex.

Housing authority representatives said they see this as a plus for Beaumont.

They had a meeting with staff members to outline changes in hours and salary. Four staff members did not agree with the changes and resigned.