| Updated: 1/31 9:21 am |
Published: 1/30 10:32 pm
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Mildred Kalimah said there are plenty of problems embedded in the walls of her north Tulsa home.
"My home is not insulated, so when its cold, i'm cold," said Kalimah.
It makes for some expensive utility bills. A glance at her ceiling, and its easy to see why she worries when it rains, but Kalimah rarely complains. Several homes around her look far worse.
"It’s frustrating because I know there's help out there," said Kalimah.
That help was scheduled to come in the form of a grant. A total of $704,930 was given to the city by Housing and Urban Development, the federal program known as HUD.
"We've got more needs than we have money coming in," said Councilor, Jack Henderson.
Henderson said $200,000 of that money was supposed to go toward Area Councils for Community Action. Kalimah works for the group. The same group that helps repair dilapidated homes.
"This is not the first time we have not been able to get the funds out in time,” said Henderson.
HUD forwarded FOX23 the letter they sent to the City of Tulsa. In it, HUD states that projects that were to use the money, didn't get off the ground in time. The Shoppes on Peoria is one of those projects. Doors to some its stores just opened this month.
City Manager, Jim Twombly told FOX23 there was another unexpected project: The Green-Arch, set to go on Greenwood. The project is set to cost $650,000. That leavs behind far less than $200,000; money that would've repaired over 30 homes.
“I have applications dating back to 2010," said Kalimah.
HUD needs proof that grant money is in place by August. So for now, only a fraction of folks will get help.
"That's all we have is hope and a prayer," said Kalimah.
