LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) – South Mississippi Housing Authority Executive Director Justin Brooks requested the city to bring a vote that could declare the situation at Equal Steps Veterans Home a local disaster.
In partnership with the Veterans Administration and the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, the housing authority’s administrative plan allows them to provide services in the event of a local disaster or state of emergency.
RELATED: City documents: Equal Steps Veterans home operated without business license for a year
“Ultimately, our goal here is to make sure that there aren’t any veterans who become homeless because of this event,” Brooks said. “We take serving our veterans very seriously. If we can prevent homelessness, especially amongst our veterans, then we’re committed to doing that.”
On Oct. 17, the Executive Director of Equal Steps Veterans Home was arrested on a felony bad check charge out of Slidell, Louisiana. Ultimately leading to the closure of the privately owned care facility.
RELATED: Equal Steps Veterans Home executive director arrested, charged with felony bad check
Alderman at-large Donald Frazier recommended that the declaration be made if the city attorney finds that the closure meets the legal definition.
“I’m not sure that this particular situation would qualify for the type of disaster declaration that the ordinance and statute envisioned,” the city attorney said.
“We do not provide any of the elevated levels of care, and more actually, we are not permitted to do so,” Brooks added.
Although a decision was not made Tuesday night, the opportunity for the declaration of a local disaster still remains.
See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.
Copyright 2025 WLOX. All rights reserved.