Detroit Free Press

In January we told you about Texana Hollis, the 101-year-old woman who had been evicted from her home in Detroit after her son failed to pay property taxes linked to a reverse mortgage. Despite being told she could go back to her home, there was another hitch when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said her house “was completely unsuitable for a person to live in,” and forbid her to return. Well, finally things have turned around for Ms. Hollis and she is on her way to being back in her cherished home.

When Tuesdays with Morrie author and Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom came across this woman’s this story, he was motivated to act. Through his charity S.A.Y. Detroit, Ms. Hollis’ home has been purchased from HUD and volunteers are now helping to renovate the house. Tomorrow, the organization will give Ms. Hollis the keys to the house Mitch said she never should have lost.

“The mark of a society is how it treats its neediest citizens, especially its neediest senior citizens. Texana Hollis should never have been thrown out — no matter what mistakes her son made — and it should not have taken this long to get her back in,” he wrote in his Sunday column.

“Texana Hollis cried on the sidewalk when she was evicted; I hope she is laughing this week. She is a joyous piece of our city’s living history, and we should cherish her.”

S.A.Y. Detroit has given the home new floors, walls, appliances, a repaired roof, heating, electrical, a security system, a new kitchen, and even painted the living room in Ms. Hollis’ favorite bright colors to make sure the dwelling is up to standard. When Mitch told her the good news, she replied, ”You don’t know how happy you have made me.”

When we first ran this story, many of you asked if there was a place you could donate to help Texana Hollis, and Mitch Albom has now set up a fund to help her with her future expenses. Here is the contact information if you’d like to help out:

Texana Hollis Fund, c/o Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, Room 101, 150 Stimson, Detroit 48201. You can also call 313-993-4700 or go to www.saydetroit.org.

I’m glad this story has an even happier ending than could have been imagined.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Texana Hollis, a 101-year-old Detroit woman was evicted from her home Sept. 12 after her 65-year-old son failed to pay property taxes linked to a reverse mortgage. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) foreclosed on the home, but two days later Ms. Hollis was told she could return home. That was four months ago and now HUD has changed its mind again, telling the woman who has lived in this home for 60 years that it’s not in liveable condition.

Department spokesman Brian Sullivan told The Detroit News 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 also doesn’t want to pay to fix up the house so Sullivan said the department is 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.”

Sullivan’s words have done little to comfort Ms. Hollis.

“Here I am, 100 years old, and don’t have a home,” she said. “Oh Lord, help me.”

For now, Ms. Hollis has been staying with a former Sunday School student who offered a room in her home when she heard about her friend’s situation. Hollis’s son, on the other hand, appears to have gone MIA after taking out the reverse mortgage for the $32,000 assessed value of the property which makes the story even sadder.

Do you agree with HUD’s decision not to let Texana Hollis move back into her home? Do you think HUD should pay to bring her house up to code?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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