JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Water service has been temporarily extended at a Jackson apartment complex.
On August 13, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate ordered JXN Water to continue to provide service to Blossom Apartments for an additional seven days.
“This Court considers this period of time to be necessary for the tenants to find appropriate alternative housing and to move their furnishings and other property out of the Blossom Apartments complex,” said Wingate.
Some of the issues at the apartment complex include mold, damage and water loss. Before the judge issued his initial order, many of the tenants had been living without water for weeks due to unpaid bills by the apartment complex.
The Jackson Public School District (JPS) stepped up on August 13 to support families at Blossom Apartments. They set up outside the apartment complex to offer critical support, including school uniforms, hygiene kits and backpacks.
“In light of the recent water outage here at Blossom Apartments, the Jackson Public School District’s Homeless Program, we wanted to come out and provide onsite support to our scholars and family. And that includes, providing or identifying them as eligible under our program and then providing additional supports and services that they need to ensure that they have a quality education in our district,” said Tiffany Jones, a JPS McKinney-Vento Program manager.
Blossom Apartments were declared non-compliant by Mississippi Home Corporation, and residents were ordered to leave. On August 12, tenants were able to begin the application process for new housing during at event at Stewpot Community Services.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn said additional support is coming from Region 6 Housing Authority fast-tracking housing vouchers, and Jackson Housing Authority, which is assigning caseworkers to guide residents through the transition process.
“No one in our city should ever face the prospect of losing basic services over circumstances beyond their control,” Horhn said. “Restoring water is just one piece of a bigger push to protect our residents, and we’re committed to standing by them every step of the way as they move toward safer homes.”
The Mayor’s Housing Task Force will have its first meeting on Monday, August 18.