KENNER, La. — A woman in Kenner claims her son’s apartment complex is trying to evict him because he has autism.
Nicole Walker told WWL-TV she has been frustrated and confused for the past two years after a new property management company took over the complex where her son lives.
“My son is 32 years old,” said Walker. “I am proud to be a mother of a child with a disability. It’s a challenge, but I love my son, and I’m going to do what I have to do.”
Her son, Arwin Veal, has lived on his own at the Malcolm Kenner Apartments for the past seven years.
“He wanted to be able to live on his own,” she said. “So, I said OK. Mainly I just do his cooking as a live-in aid and take the responsibility of cleaning the house for my son.”
Walker also makes sure Veal’s rent checks reach the front office.
When a new company, HIS Management, took over, Walker says she introduced Veal to the property manager and told her about his disability.
“She was like ‘if he’s autistic I don’t want him living on the property.’ She wanted him living in a facility,” recalled Walker.
Walker says that shortly after that interaction, they began to receive eviction notices for failure to pay, even though she had made the payments.
“He brought the rent money order back, and I videotaped him trying to slide it under the door,” she said. “So, they would say that it's my word against their word.”
In the video Walker captured you can see a man seemingly representing the company bringing her an envelope. The man is talking to someone on the phone and states, ‘I gave it to her.’
We contacted HSI Management for a response to Walkers' claims. In an email, we were told that because of pending litigation, the company could not comment.
Last week, a Justice of the Peace Court Judge sided with Walker and her attorney, dismissing the eviction and allowing Veal to stay in the apartment. But Walker says they are still refusing to take her payments, and the complex is appealing the judge's ruling.
“My son has been here seven years and with him being autistic you can’t take them out of their comfort zone and put them somewhere else,” she said. “They will never be comfortable. So as a mother I have to fight for my son and that is what I’m going to do.”
Walker has taped a sign on her front door warning that she will record anyone who returns the rent money order.
The next hearing is scheduled for early July in the First Parish Court.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.