By Timothy D. Naegele[1]

When the late U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke and I wrote the "Brooke Amendment," and the national "Housing Allowance" program that morphed into Section 8 housing, we did so to help tenants and not to confound or burden their lives.  Public housing authorities or their equivalents—such as nonprofits like EAH in California[2]—were not envisioned as running or adversely affecting the programs.

In two recent law review articles, I discussed these issues at length.[3] "Do-gooders" have rationed Section 8's benefits, and given them only to those who are deemed "deserving." They have wasted essential monies on frivolities; and recognized every holiday on earth.[4] Noise abatement and the quiet enjoyment of residential units have often been ignored.[5]

Far, far worse is that abusive male tenants have been allowed to remain, even one who (1) physically beat a live-in "mentally-challenged" woman, and (2) threatened the life of an elderly resident. EAH's name is a shortened version of "Ecumenical Association for Housing." To profess help for seniors—including our great nation's veterans—while actually hurting them, is blasphemy itself.[6]

In a very real sense, EAH's managers condone elder abuse; and they must be called to account.[7] At its website and each project, EAH housing should be described as: "The place where people come to die, and few get out alive." At the very least, it should happen with dignity—not condemnation, ridicule or far worse.[8]

At least two things need to happen. Those EAH managers and employees who have condoned such abuse or allowed it to happen need to be terminated forthwith and sued personally—and prosecuted. Also, federal and state investigations must be undertaken with respect to their practices. The abuse and endangerment of EAH residents must stop now!

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© 2024, Timothy D. Naegele

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[1]  Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  See, e.g., Timothy D. Naegele Resume-21-8-6  and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/   He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University.  He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at The Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service).  Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/articles/ and https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/articles/), and studied photography with Ansel Adams.  He can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com

[2]  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EAH_Housing ("EAH Housing") and https://www.eahhousing.org/ ("EAH Housing | A roof is just the beginning")

[3]  See (a) Timothy D. Naegele, “Homelessness in America” 137 BANKING L.J. 378 (July-August 2020) https://naegeleblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/timothy-d.-naegele.pdf and (b) Timothy D. Naegele, “The Brooke Amendment And Section 8 Housing: Revisited” 136 BANKING L. J. 245 (May 2019) https://naegeleblog.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/timothy-d.-naegele.pdf; see also https://naegeleknol.wordpress.com/accomplishments/

[4]  See, e.g., https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13895921/texan-homeowner-install-solar-panel-debt-damage-home.html ("Texans who installed solar panels are met with mounting debt and damage to their homes") and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2023/06/18/the-juneteenth-holiday-should-be-abolished/ ("The Juneteenth Holiday Should Be Abolished")

[5]  For example, at best, their units are little more than glorified Motel 6 units.  Yet, they have required an elderly resident (and veteran) in his mid-80s to pay for noise-deadening panels.  Major motel and hotel chains like the aging-Motel 6 and Marriott would go out of business if their rooms were not quiet.

Also, only some of the units are air-conditioned, despite 100-degree-plus temperatures that hit elderly residents especially hard.

[6]  See supra n.2.

[7]  See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/elder-abuse-is-alive-and-well-in-arizona/ ("Elder Abuse Is Alive And Well In Arizona")

[8]  In one case, for two solid years, an 83-year-old resident (and veteran) reported problems with his Iranian neighbor in meticulous detail, yet nothing was done.  Even more disturbing is the fact that there were problems with the neighbor before the resident learned of EAH housing; and management knew about them.  Yet, the neighbor was allowed to remain.

When the neighbor beat his live-in, mentally-challenged female "companion," and then had her evicted, the resident knew that he was dealing with someone who was "depraved," "unhinged" and violent.

Next, the neighbor threatened to kill the resident.  Another long-time resident described him as being "crazy as hell," and said to report him to EAH management, which was done.  Clearly, no resident of any EAH housing project should have to endure what the resident experienced over the two-year period.  

However, a female resident warned him that the neighbor and/or those working with him might target the resident physically if the neighbor was ousted from the EAH housing.  Query whether the resident or others like this individual will be killed or injured before EAH acts?  Sound farfetched?  It isn't.