IN YOUR CORNER: Disabled mother and son stuck in apartment following renovations

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Disabled and bodily unable to depart their condominium, a metro household calls KFOR. They inform ‘In Your Nook’ condominium renovations have rendered them helpless in their very own residence.

The Isola Bella flats on NW 63rd are below building, and Frank and Judy McCollum say the renovations have gone on for a while.

“I do really feel like a prisoner,” mentioned Frank. “I am unable to get to church on Sundays, and that is very disappointing. Church is essential to me.”

The mom and son moved to the complicated final August.

However two to a few months again, they are saying concrete work exterior prompted maintennance to take away a railing on stairs exterior their constructing.

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Judy McCollum

Judy and Frank, who’re each disabled, are actually caught.

“I’ve to do dialysis thrice every week,” mentioned Frank. “In that weakened place there isn’t any manner I can rise up the steps with no rail.”

“I am 83, I haven’t got good steadiness anymore,” mentioned Judy. “I did not suppose [railing] can be down for this size of time.”

For months now, the one time the McCollums say they will depart is with the assistance of Frank’s residence well being aids, or his dialysis staff.

“At any time when I am going to dialysis, I’ve somebody pushing at my again and serving to me rise up the hill,” mentioned Frank. “And it is nonetheless horrible.”

“I am unable to take the trash out, as a result of I rise up with the railing,” added Judy.

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Frank McCollum

Frank says requires assist by himself, Judy, and even his healthcare staff, have gotten nowhere.

Information 4 tried to resolve the problem behind the scenes, however our message was not returned.

So we spoke with administration on property.

When requested when the railings may be put in, we have been informed undertaking crews have been ending up tasks close by first, and the McCollum’s constructing would observe very quickly.

“[Renovation crews] are proper behind us proper now, putting in the railings again there,” mentioned Melissa Wheeler, Isola Bella Property Supervisor. “[Crews] will probably be transferring [to the McCollum’s building] on Monday.”

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Stairs with out railings on the condominium complicated.

As for the lengthy delay, we have been informed it was a matter of undertaking priorities.

“Effectively, we have now, like I mentioned, precedence ranges, and clearly the bridge throughout the lake is a giant one trigger we have now to have that safe for individuals strolling throughout the water,” added Wheeler. “With the chilly climate in February, the rains lately, the concrete received held up. You’ll be able to solely do what you are able to do pertaining to the climate. The climate, too, slowed us down.”

The McCollums have been informed transferring is an choice, however there’s an issue.

“It prices us $300 trigger our lease is not up,” mentioned Judy. “We’re on mounted revenue, so I haven’t got $300 further. Plus, the very fact we’ll need to pay to have somebody transfer us too.”

We checked with Oklahoma Metropolis officers and have been informed it would not seem the complicated is breaking any metropolis code, given the complicated’s age.

They might nonetheless not be ADA compliant, as these guidelines learn:

“All areas of public lodging have to be fully-accessible.”

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The Isola Bella condominium complicated.

Nevertheless consultants inform KFOR the power to implement ADA compliance is missing in Oklahoma.

Folks residing in HUD, or Part Eight housing, can file complaints by way of the next:

https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint

metrofairhousing.org/your-rights/

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