Mayor: Residents at Houston assisted living facility abandoned

The mayor said they were left alone with out power. One resident slept in her car, while another had water in her apartment.

HOUSTON — The City of Houston is responding to an independent living facility in northwest Houston that Mayor John Whitmire said left people without power and without help since Thursday’s storms.

They’re looking into Independence Hall just off Burress Street and Airline Drive. Residents say problems at this complex are nothing new, which is why some say they weren’t surprised that management hasn’t been there

We’re told a majority of the people who live there have a disability or are a senior citizen, so it’s been difficult for them. City leaders want to know who’s in charge.

Editor’s note: Mayor John Whitmire talked about the Independence Hall in the video above from his Sunday news conference.

Mayor Whitmire just arrived at the Independence Hall apartment complex. He says residents here were abandoned by management. Residents have been without power for days now. Their power just came back on. @KHOU pic.twitter.com/rRTs63aTGs

— Julissa Garza (@JulissaGarzaTv) May 19, 2024

Ice bags were at the complex Sunday, a sign of relief for residents at the complex after days with no power.

RELATED: UPDATE: Power restored to assisted living facility in the Heights that had been without since Thursday

“I had to sleep in my car,” resident Lucy Joseph said. “I got to take a shower and the water was cold, so that cools you off a little bit, but other than that, no its unbearable.”

Joseph tells us she hasn’t seen management in days. The Houston Fire Department was alerted Sunday of the situation there.

“They were out here without any electricity, no management checking on them,” said Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Peña. “A lot of them have told me directly they haven’t had anything to eat in quite a while.”

On top of that, some apartments were damaged, like Ofelia Villanueva’s., Her living room is still full of debris and the rooms took a hit, too.

“Todo la carpeta esta mojada. All the wood in the bedroom,” Villanueva said. “All of the carpet is wet. All the wood of the bed is wet.”

She said the carpet in her room is wet from the rain. Her bed is, too.

Mayor John Whitmire got a firsthand look at the damage Sunday.

“I’m so sorry that people have to live in these deplorable conditions,” he said. “The storm made it worse, but this unit has been neglected for years.”

Mayor Whitmire said he plans to find a way to help Villanueva and the other residents who call this place home.

“I’m going to get the housing department to see what options we have, certainly with temporary care,” he said. “But they need long-term care.”

Villanueva told us her son with a disability had to go stay with one of her friends. The Houston Fire Department said two people were transported from the complex on Sunday and Mayor Whitmire said he wanted the housing director there on Monday.