EVANSVILLE — In the last three months of 2025, the non-profit management company for the Evansville Housing Authority filed more evictions than it did the entirety of 2024.
The company, Advantix, filed 82 evictions between Oct. 1 and Dec. 8 against residents in EHA’s Rental Assistance Demonstration Program complexes. That makes more than 160 for the year.
In all of 2024, Advantix filed 55 evictions.
That number shrinks in years prior to that. In 2023, 15 evictions are in court records. There are none in 2022, and single-digit totals for both 2021 and 2020.
Now, a local church is calling for an investigation into the increase in eviction filings, as well a lack of “accessible, meaningful” case management for tenants in the Rental Assistance Demonstration program.
In all, 44 November eviction notices went to participants in the RAD program, a mechanism EHA cites on its website as seeking “to preserve affordable housing.”
RAD is a Department of Housing and Urban Development program started in 2012 as a way for public housing authorities to move public housing into project-based Section 8 housing. This allowed for low-income housing tax credits, public or private debt and grants to help rehab properties.
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ sent the investigation request Friday to members of the Commission on Homelessness, the same day the Courier & Press published a story on the slew of evictions.
The Courier & Press reached out to commission president Savannah Whicker to see if the group would pursue an investigation, after which an official response was shared to all those included in the initial request from St. Paul.
Whicker told the Courier & Press the matter would be placed on an upcoming commission meeting agenda for discussion.
The commission’s role is to make recommendations to city and county government, as well as other agencies, on homelessness issues, but it does not have enforcement authority.
Who is on the commission?
The commission is made up of 25 members. These are appointed by the mayor, Evansville City Council, Vanderburgh County Council and Vanderburgh County Commissioners.
Multiple members are elected officials who sit on those councils and commissions, including county commissioners Justin Elpers and Mike Goebel, as well as county councilor Nick Iaccarino and city councilor Angela Koehler Lindsey.
But members also include a few individuals with connections to the housing authority and Advantix, as well as the mayor’s office, which appoints the members of EHA/Advantix’s board of directors.
This includes Rick Moore, CEO of both Advantix and EHA. The Courier & Press has left multiple requesrs with Moore seeking an interview.
The commission also includes Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry. Terry’s husband, Marques Terry, is the vice president of leased housing for EHA.
The Courier & Press initially listed Marques Terry as an employee of both EHA and Advantix. While he is listed as a member of Advantix staff on the organization’s website, the mayor’s office reached out and said the website is incorrect.
And finally, Luke Snyder, husband of deputy mayor Lindsay Snyder.
The commission meets on the second Thursday of each month in the mayor’s office, according to information on the city website.
The Courier & Press has inquired if the public is welcome at the meetings.
What does St. Paul’s want to see happen?
Last week, the Courier & Press published a story about evictions occurring in RAD properties around the city.
In that story, St. Paul’s UCC Pastor J.D. Rose shared his attempts to help the group of residents facing eviction at White Oak Manor on the city’s West Side.
Rose said his church offered to pay three months of rent for everyone facing eviction at White Oak. He said his efforts were ignored.
In the letter requesting an investigation, the church states its leadership believes “immediate action is necessary to prevent further harm and ensure that EHA and Advantix operate in alignment with their stated missions to provide safe, stable, and equitable housing.”
St. Paul’s requested that an investigation look into the evictions, communication issues between tenants and management, lack of case management and whether EHA is following required policies and federal guidelines.
The church would also like to see mandatory meetings between tenants and management prior to an eviction filing as well as:
And finally, Rose and his church would like to see a temporary pause on evictions.
“We request a reasonable pause on ongoing and upcoming eviction filings at RAD properties until a review can be completed and tenants have access to meaningful support,” the request states. “St. Paul’s UCC stands ready to collaborate with the City of Evansville, housing advocates, other faith communities, and service providers to ensure that Evansville fulfills its commitment to compassionate, just, and stable housing for all.”
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Amid spike in EHA evictions, local pastor asks for investigation
Reporting by Sarah Loesch, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
