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60-70 Perry County Housing Authority apartments stand empty

The signs are everyone, one at almost every public housing complex in Perry County owned and managed by the Perry County Housing Authority--"Apartments for Rent" or "Apartments Available."

They point to what Perry County Housing Authority director Stephanie Hubler calls largely a no waiting list. She says there are currently "60 or 70" empty apartments among the housing authority's 357 sprinkled from here to Cutler, Willisville, Pinckneyville and Tamaroa.

Given the nearly 13 percent unemployment in Perry County and seniors whose fixed incomes don't go as far as they once did, it's hand to understand why there are so many vacancies.

"We have a shortage of the larger apartments. We have two and three bedroom apartments," she said. "The bottom line is that our waiting list is open."

Historically, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has resisted closing apartment buildings or selling them off as community centers or private housing. That mindset apparently hasn't changed. Hubler said the apartments are actively being marketed with information being placed on the agency's website.

The same problem happened several years ago and the housing authority placed ads in area newspapers trying to find tenants. People moved from miles away to get the apartments. Some of the leases worked out. Others were problematic.

At one point, District 300 considered the purchase of some of the East South Street apartments.

Supt. Dr. Gary Kelly:

"There has been consideration of acquiring the property on East South Street for the district, Tri-County Special Education Cooperative and the Southern Region Early Childhood Program (SIU-C Pre K) to work cooperatively to build a Pre K Center with classrooms for the Tri-County and Southern Region Early Childhood programs and additional offices for Tri-County. We did submit a grant to the Illinois State Board of Education for this effort and it was not funded in last year's cycle of awards for the state's early childhood construction program. I believe they had $45 million in funds available with applications in total of $500 million submitted. There may be additional funds available this year and I would expect our application to receive further consideration. Otherwise, without the grant funds or some type of assistance through Congressman Enyart's office I would not think we could acquire the property solely on our own."

The housing authority website lists their complexes.

Du Quoin

The main office is located in Du Quoin at the Robert Phipps Complex on South Walnut Street. There are 270 units in Du Quoin. The locations in Du Quoin are: Bel Air Homes, Bel Air West, Lincoln Trail, the Joe Morris Complex and the Robert Phipps Complex.

Pinckneyville

Perry County Housing Authority has a total of 62 apartments located in the City of Pinckneyville. The locations in Pinckneyville are: Victory Addition, Diamond Terrace and the Dean Bartle Complex.

Tamaroa

There are a total of six apartments in the City of Tamaroa. These units are located in the Village Green Acres project.

Willisville

There are eight apartments in the City of Willisville. The apartments are located in the Village Terrace project.

Cutler

Located in Cutler, there are 15 apartments in the John Rednour complex.

You can obtain a housing application online or you may also pick up an application packet at the Robert Phipps complex. Rent is based on income. You must bring the application packet back to the office, along with the following:Marriage license, divorce decree or paternity papers that state who has legal custody of child(child(ren) and)and the amount of child support ordered by the judge (regardless of whether you receive the support or not) as well as birth certificate, Social Security Card and Driver's License for EACH member of the household. Verification of all household income. Verification of all assets.

When you return the completed application packet to the office, we will review the information with you completely. All of the information in your packet will be verified by contacting past and present employers, prior landlords, references, utility companies and social service agencies. We will also run a criminal history and credit check on all household members over the age of 18. The housing authority office hours are 8:30 to 4 p.m.