A public housing resident becomes homeless

Monday marked a victory for residents of JT Hairston Memorial Apartments, particularly for resident LaTonya Stimpson. The city of Greensboro obtained a restraining order from a superior court judge halting Stimpson's scheduled eviction. Days earlier, the city had filed a discrimination lawsuit against the public housing community, the company that manages it and staff.

The previous Wednesday was not such a happy day. Toni Curtis, a 43-year-old resident, was evicted by a Guilford County sheriff's deputy accompanied by Greensboro police officers during a vigil in which supporters gathered with Curtis, much as they would with Stimpson five days later.

Curtis is one of 19 residents that signed a petition in August complaining about the treatment of residents by management. Among the violations that led to her eviction, she told me, were unpaid charges for the replacement of her mini-blinds and drip pans, and repair of a wall. She said supporters gathered money to help pay the charges, but management refused to accept the funds. (Regional Property Manager Ron Cagno confirmed that Westminster Co. refused to accept the funds, explaining that the cutoff for payments takes place once the sheriff's office is called in to change the locks.)

"Yesterday, they wrote this paper saying I can stay until the end of the month as long as I don't appeal it," Curtis said. "I refused to sign it. I've been here since 2003. I've never been a problem, never had police called. You got people shooting into other people's houses, shooting into the air. And they're still here."

1. Curtis discusses a time when raw sewage came up through her sink.

Toni Curtis, Part 1 from Cheryl Daniels on Vimeo.

2. Curtis calls on Shiloh Baptist Church, whose nonprofit owns the apartment complex, to intervene on behalf of the residents.

Untitled from Jordan Green2 on Vimeo.

3. Curtis and fellow resident Starlyn Nelson describe parishioners' reaction to the residents during a protest outside Shiloh Baptist Church on March 7.

Toni Curtis, Part 3 from Jordan Green on Vimeo.

4. Curtis and Nelson talk about what they see as overly restrictive regulations by property management.

Toni Curtis, Part 4 from Jordan Green2 on Vimeo.

5. A sheriff's deputy changed the locks on Curtis' apartment at about 2. p.m.

Toni Curtis, Part 5 from Cheryl Daniels on Vimeo.

6. Curtis vows to continue her struggle.

Toni Curtis, Part 6 from Jordan Green2 on Vimeo.

7. Home is now a motel. Curtis explains that the trauma of the eviction has caused her to neglect her health.

Toni Curtis, Part 7 from Jordan Green on Vimeo.