Houston Senior Apartments Face Elevator Outages, Impacting Residents

Elevator Issues at Senior Living Complex

• 📌 Bobby Simon, a former Houston Oiler, is severely impacted by non-working elevators at the Ben Gardens senior apartments.
• 💡 One elevator has been out for approximately a week, while the other has been non-operational for about a year.
• ♿ Simon requires assistance, often being carried up three flights of stairs by medics for his medical appointments, including dialysis.

Resident Struggles and Concerns

• 🏠 Simon expresses feeling trapped in his apartment due to the lack of elevator access, hindering his ability to leave.
• ⚠️ Second-floor resident Edna Butler also faces difficulties, experiencing breathlessness when using the stairs.
• 💬 Residents are seeking answers regarding the cause of the issues and a timeline for repairs.

Management and Housing Authority Response

• 🏢 Ben Gardens is managed by the Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF), with some rents subsidized by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
• ✉️ Management sent a letter stating the elevator company is working on repairs, but acknowledged it will take time.
• ⏳ As of Saturday night, neither RHF nor HUD had provided a response or update to KHOU 11 News.
• 📰 KHOU 11 News is committed to following the story and seeking solutions for the residents.