SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Former residents of Birmingham’s historic Bankhead Towers building report that daily meal reimbursement checks, issued to support them after an emergency evacuation, have repeatedly bounced. Following an official condemnation of the building by the city on Sept. 26, over 200 elderly and disabled residents were forced to vacate the 1923 landmark on Oct. 10 and were relocated primarily to nearby hotels.
“I was issued two false checks,” said Sarah Inman, a former resident with disabilities and a past AT&T Mobility worker who had lived at Bankhead Towers since 2013. “They gave out four more checks after that, but they’re off the same account. My bank refuses to cash it.” Inman, temporarily housed at a hotel in Fultondale, fears further uncertainty when her housing voucher expires on Nov. 6. “We were supposed to get food cards,” she added. “I have not gotten any of it.”
Anthony Glover, another displaced resident, has received neither checks nor meal cards. “I haven’t gotten any support for meals,” said Glover, who had lived at Bankhead Towers for two years. “We’re just waiting without knowing if help is coming.”
The building, located at 2300 Fifth Ave. North and once home to baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and where Bear Bryant’s Alabama football team stayed for Legion Field games, was federally subsidized housing managed by private company Paths Management LLC. Paths took over from The Millennia Companies, whose CEO, Frank Sinito, is under investigation for alleged mismanagement of HUD funds and tenant security deposits, per reports from Cleveland, Ohio.
Delayed Support and Financial Strain
In response to growing frustration, Paths Management issued a statement to AL.com confirming that residents’ reimbursement checks were halted by an “erroneous fraud alert.” The management added that they are collaborating with their bank to resolve the issue and have issued pre-loaded cash cards for meal expenses. However, residents like Marilyn Thomas, who lived at Bankhead Towers for five years, say support has been lacking. “I’ve been here three weeks, and I’ve only received one debit card,” said Thomas, who now stays at a Homewood hotel. “I’m worried what’s going to happen before the end of this week.”
According to a spokesperson from Paths, the company remains committed to assisting residents: “We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and are working diligently to ensure meal allowances are promptly processed. Our team has been distributing cash cards to support residents.”
Sherry Davis, who lived in Bankhead Towers for three years, found herself overdrawn by over $1,000 after her bank cashed $650 in checks that later bounced. “I’m disgusted,” she said. “We lived in those conditions: bedbugs, roaches, filthy carpet. I hadn’t used my sink in two years—it’s taped up. They had nobody to come and do it.”
Paths acknowledged some challenges in the payment process, attributing issues to flagged account activity. “Due to a spike in account activity, our bank automatically flagged checks,” a Paths representative explained, adding that temporary housing accommodations have not been affected.
Repairs, Delays, and Calls for Action
To address building safety issues, Paths has initiated repairs, including a new fire alarm and suppression systems, roof replacement, pest extermination, and upgrades to apartments for re-occupancy. “Major improvements are underway at Bankhead Towers,” said a statement from Paths. “It has been all-hands-on-deck since we took over management of the building, and we look forward to the day we can welcome residents back home.”
The residents’ struggles have gained attention from U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who spoke on the matter during an Oct. 11 visit. “We all know that it was a travesty what occurred with respect to the moving out of our elderly at Bankhead,” she said. “I look forward to working with our community and other civic and political leaders to do something about it.”
For the displaced residents, however, the timeline remains uncertain. “They don’t keep you informed of anything,” Thomas said. “You call, you can’t get ahold of anybody. Nobody answers the phone. You’re just here, wondering.”
