NewsPalm Beach CountyRegion C Palm Beach CountyWest Palm Beach

Actions

Clients worried if their subsidized housing will continue as Jerome Golden Center closes

Posted at 7:11 PM, Oct 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-22 18:26:35-04

Alexandra Jeannite is packing up her belongings.

She's taking her time, feeling her way around the room.

She lost her eyesight years ago due to medical issues.

"What had happened to me ended up going through a mental breakdown and also losing my apartment. I ended up at the Lewis Center and then the Lewis Center placed me through the Jerome Golden Center with their housing program," she said.

She's able to afford this apartment because of the subsidized housing program, but lately hearing the Jerome Center is struggling financially.

Alexandra didn't know if she would still have a place to live.

"My concern is what is going to happen to individuals like me that are living here in their program that they pay the rent for us," Jeannite says.

Larry McDowell, who works at the Braille Club of Palm Beach County, knows Alexandra.

"She's on kidney dialysis, she had an operation a couple of weeks ago for kidney cancer and she has other health issues," he says.

We contacted the Jerome Golden Center for answers. They released this statement: "The client you inquired about is part of a HUD program. The Jerome Golden Center will pay her rent for November. Her lease will not be terminated. Another HUD provider will take over her lease. The center is working closely with the county to ensure that any client whose rent is subsidized through HUD will be managed through another agency."

Meanwhile, two former employees have filed a lawsuit against the Center. The Center said they have not seen the lawsuit and can't comment.