Evictions Split Up Group of Developmentally Disabled

Brad Ball used to play cards with his friends every night.

But the congenial gathering is withering away because the players, all of whom are developmentally disabled, are being evicted from their federally subsidized units at Arbor Park Apartment Homes in Anaheim.

Instead of the usual six or more sitting in, the group is down to four or fewer players, and “that’s not enough to have a good game,” Ball said.

“I used to love this place, but I don’t anymore,” the 47-year-old said. “Now I just love my friends.”

About half a dozen of the nearly 25 disabled renters in the complex have been served with eviction papers. The rest assume they will soon follow because the building owners have raised the rent and are no longer accepting vouchers from the federal Section 8 housing program, which supports low-income renters.

Losing Social World Along With Their Home

Executives at the Kor Group, which owns Arbor Park Apartment Homes, confirmed that the complex no longer takes Section 8 vouchers but refused to answer further questions concerning the property.

Eviction is especially hard for the disabled, many of whom have difficulty filling out paperwork and finding transportation.

Many of them lose their social world as well. Programs that care for the disabled commonly try to house their clients in the same apartment complex to foster friendships and create a support group. When outside their circle of friends, the disabled are more susceptible to robbery, scam artists and violence, experts say.

“I’m worried about [Ball]. You tell him not to do something but . . . he’s easy to take advantage of,” said Gordon Everetts, a Project Independence caseworker who checks on Ball twice a week. Project Independence is a nonprofit group based in Costa Mesa.

The situation at Arbor Park apartments is common throughout the country and especially in Orange County, housing experts said. Section 8 pays only a limited amount for housing; because the average rent is nearly $1,200 a month and there is about a 3% vacancy rate in the county, more landowners are rejecting Section 8 vouchers and charging higher rents.

The shortage of Section 8 housing is common in the region’s other high-priced markets as well.

“With so many landlords not taking Section 8, we’re getting past the point of no return now. People are getting put out to the ocean without any life preservers,” said Larry Gross, executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, a tenant rights group based in Los Angeles.

Anaheim has 5,000 tenants in its Section 8 housing program. But nearly 25% of people eligible for the county’s Section 8 program are unable to find housing, said John Hambuch, manager of the Orange County Housing Assistance Division. That number would be higher if not for the about 20 Section 8 renters each month who flee the high prices of Los Angeles and Orange counties for the Riverside and San Bernardino area, Hambuch said.

Hambuch said the disabled often have the hardest time finding a new place to live. “To ask someone who can’t ride or drive to compete with others to find a bargain apartment is a lot to ask,” he said.

Ball got his eviction notice on April 1. “I thought I was getting a prize,” said Ball, who is developmentally disabled and cannot read. Then a fellow Project Independence client read the paper to him.

“I cried. A lot,” Ball said, his smooth, boyish face crumpling momentarily.

Ball, however, lucked out and found new housing. He has packed up his belongings and his pet rabbit, Christina, and plans to move out this week.

All Most Know Is They Can’t Afford to Stay

Other residents still aren’t sure where they are going but know they cannot afford the new, nearly $900-a-month rent at Arbor Park. The rent was about $750, Project Independence officials say. Section 8 renters contribute up to 30% of their income toward rent, depending on their earnings. “Gotta figure out something soon or I’ll have to move back with my mom,” said 38-year-old Tom Johnson.

No matter what happens, it will be impossible to put them all in the same complex again, Project Independence caseworkers said.

“I think they’re being pretty brave about [the move] now, but that will probably change the closer the move day comes,” caseworker Everetts said.

As Ball played his hand, he waved off questions about his impending move.

“I’m not scared,” he insisted. “But I wish I could live next door to one of my friends at my new place.”