A San Francisco landlord has filed a lawsuit accusing an affordable housing nonprofit of forsaking tenants in the Outer Mission who are mostly military veterans.
Murkelley, based in the city, filed a complaint alleging that Mission Housing Development left 5524 Mission Street while its subtenants were still living in the 33-unit building, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The San Francisco-based nonprofit signed tenants to subleases that continue beyond the term of its management contract with Murkelley, which the landlord said was a violation of the lease, according to the complaint.
The filing states that the nonprofit agency entered into a 10-year lease with Murkelley in February 2013 to provide supportive housing for veterans, with assurance that the Department of Veteran Affairs would subsidize the rent and provide services to the residents.
The agreement ended Feb. 13, according to the filing, and Mission Housing Development left without making arrangements for its subtenants, Murkelley said.
After the nonprofit’s alleged abandonment of the building, Murkelley said, it hired a security company and a temporary “quasi-management company” to handle the needs of the subtenants. The firm said that if the subtenants do not leave and the company cannot find someone to manage the building, Murkelley will be unable to use the building.
Murkelley said in the complaint that it had no desire to evict the subtenants but it lacks the experience to provide services to the veterans and cannot act as their landlord. Additionally, Murkelley said Mission Housing Development subleased units to some non-veterans, which it said violated the lease agreement.
“In sum, defendants, with the City of San Francisco’s backing, abandoned otherwise homeless veterans, leaving them without assurance, security or stability,” the complaint reads.
Murkelley, led by former bar and restaurant owner Gus Murad, is demanding a jury trial in addition to monetary compensation for attorney fees and damages.
A spokesperson for Mission Housing Development declined to comment on the complaint, according to the Chronicle.
— Dana Bartholomew
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