Oh, the San Francisco Housing Authority. Its staff is always good for a “They did what?” article — but at least this one doesn’t end as badly as they usually do.
You may recall the sad story of Mary DiGuiseppi, a 94-year-old woman who has lived at Clementina Towers South of Market for 29 years. She lives on the 10th floor of the public housing high-rise for seniors and disabled people, and whenever the frequently malfunctioning elevators are both broken, she’s stranded in her room.
In September 2013, DiGuiseppi was dropped off at Clementina Towers in a shuttle van after visiting her adult day care program. The elevators were both out, and DiGuiseppi was stranded in the lobby for 10-1/2 hours with no food, no water and no access to a restroom.
“I was in the lobby all alone, and I was frightened and cold,” she told The Chronicle later, noting the only help she got was from a security guard who put two chairs together for her to lie on. “It was very uncomfortable and painful.”
DiGuiseppi became one of 24 tenants to sue the Housing Authority for not fixing the elevators despite years of complaints. In April, Mayor Ed Lee said he found $5.4 million in his housing budget to finally get the elevators at Clementina Towers and other public housing projects fixed – though the ones in DiGuiseppi’s building won’t be completed for another year.
DiGuiseppi suffered a severe stroke about six weeks ago and after a brief stay at St. Francis Hospital is being cared for in a rehabilitation center in the city. Her husband and two sons are dead, and DiGuiseppi has no power of attorney in place. She failed to pay her October rent of $259.
On Oct. 21, a notice from the Housing Authority was taped to DiGuiseppi’s door telling her she had 14 days to pay her back rent or she’d be evicted. Obviously, she wasn’t inside and wouldn’t have known she received it.
Her neighbor and friend, Terry Bagby, spotted the note, read it — and gave us a call. We contacted the Housing Authority about the matter, and Director Barbara Smith said it was a mistake. The 14-day notices are automatically generated by a computer when back rent is due — although we saw the notice, and it was hand-signed and hand-delivered so it wasn’t exactly automatic.
“When you got involved, housing wanted to change their tune,” Bagby said. “They don’t like the media attention they get.”
Smith said the agency staff is now working with DiGuiseppi’s social worker to help a conservator get put in place to manage her money and pay her bills. In the meantime, the eviction is off the table.
“Of course we’re going to keep her apartment for her while she’s convalescing — absolutely,” Smith assured us. “We have absolutely no intention of any kind of eviction against Miss DiGuiseppi.”
Smith even visited DiGuiseppi at the rehabilitation center. She visited her after the 10 1/2 hour elevator malfunction too.
“We’re hoping she recovers and comes back,” Smith said.
You may recall the sad story of Mary DiGuiseppi, a 94-year-old woman who has lived at Clementina Towers South of Market for 29 years. She lives on the 10th floor of the public housing high-rise for seniors and disabled people, and whenever the frequently malfunctioning elevators are both broken, she’s stranded in her room.
In September 2013, DiGuiseppi was dropped off at Clementina Towers in a shuttle van after visiting her adult day care program. The elevators were both out, and DiGuiseppi was stranded in the lobby for 10-1/2 hours with no food, no water and no access to a restroom.
“I was in the lobby all alone, and I was frightened and cold,” she told The Chronicle later, noting the only help she got was from a security guard who put two chairs together for her to lie on. “It was very uncomfortable and painful.”
DiGuiseppi became one of 24 tenants to sue the Housing Authority for not fixing the elevators despite years of complaints. In April, Mayor Ed Lee said he found $5.4 million in his housing budget to finally get the elevators at Clementina Towers and other public housing projects fixed – though the ones in DiGuiseppi’s building won’t be completed for another year.
DiGuiseppi suffered a severe stroke about six weeks ago and after a brief stay at St. Francis Hospital is being cared for in a rehabilitation center in the city. Her husband and two sons are dead, and DiGuiseppi has no power of attorney in place. She failed to pay her October rent of $259.
On Oct. 21, a notice from the Housing Authority was taped to DiGuiseppi’s door telling her she had 14 days to pay her back rent or she’d be evicted. Obviously, she wasn’t inside and wouldn’t have known she received it.
Her neighbor and friend, Terry Bagby, spotted the note, read it — and gave us a call. We contacted the Housing Authority about the matter, and Director Barbara Smith said it was a mistake. The 14-day notices are automatically generated by a computer when back rent is due — although we saw the notice, and it was hand-signed and hand-delivered so it wasn’t exactly automatic.
“When you got involved, housing wanted to change their tune,” Bagby said. “They don’t like the media attention they get.”
Smith said the agency staff is now working with DiGuiseppi’s social worker to help a conservator get put in place to manage her money and pay her bills. In the meantime, the eviction is off the table.
“Of course we’re going to keep her apartment for her while she’s convalescing — absolutely,” Smith assured us. “We have absolutely no intention of any kind of eviction against Miss DiGuiseppi.”
Smith even visited DiGuiseppi at the rehabilitation center. She visited her after the 10 1/2 hour elevator malfunction too.
“We’re hoping she recovers and comes back,” Smith said.
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