Catch 22 for Housing Authority, veteran

Catch 22 for Housing Authority, veteran
An Aspen Times Editorial
February 27, 2008

The Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority and Iraq war veteran Casey Owens are in a no-win situation. Owens might lose his affordable housing because he makes too much money to live there, but the office is reluctant to kick out Owens — a 26-year-old former Marine and double amputee.

In a way, both the Housing Authority and Owens are victims in this situation. Owens’ landlord, Marne Obernauer, should have notified the office that Owens was moving in. Had Obernauer done so — as owners are required to do — then housing officials would have discovered right away that Owens didn’t qualify. (Owens is a Challenge Aspen participant and a member of the Challenge Aspen Competition Team, but draws income from a disability and military pension.)