Future holds only questions for 12-year-old evictee

Twelve-year-old Austin Bahe is among 23 children and teens who became homeless three days after Christmas.

They come from 10 families that Sandstone Housing of Fort Defiance evicted from their Church Rock Estates homes at 5 p.m. on Dec. 28.

On Dec. 29, Austin's dark brown eyes sparkled as he smiled and shyly talked about the eviction.

He was dressed like many young teens - a hoodie over his short dark brown hair, slightly baggy trousers, T-shirt and sports shoes.

Bahe was with his mother, Rhotania Yellowhorse, and his relatives: three brothers, ages 2, 6, and 19; a sister, 15; and a 9-month-old niece.

He spoke as Church Rock Chapter officials held a meeting to update the evicted families about hotel arrangements and other temporary assistance.

As the families sat on metal chairs and listened, chapter workers passed out baloney-and-cheese sandwiches and chips on plain paper plates, and handed out bottled water and soda.

Austin took a plate of food, held it in his hands for a couple of minutes and then tried to give it to one of his siblings, who shook their heads "no." He tried giving it to his mom, who looked sternly at him and whispered something.

Then he set the plate on a vacant chair next to his mother, who was focused on the discussion, in which the leaders told of their unsuccessful attempts to find alternative housing for the families.

His cousin, 15-year-old Preston Milford of Fort Defiance, was standing near the exit. Milford said he was at the meeting out of concern for his cousin, and had helped Austin pack to leave the house he'd called home for half his young life.

Austin, who attends JFK Middle School in Gallup, said he was at home when Navajo Nation police officers arrived at about 4 p.m. on Dec. 28 to enforce the eviction order.

"We were getting our stuff loaded up to be in storage," Austin remembered. "We were almost done but they chased us out and told us to return at 10 a.m."

The families were allowed to return during daylight hours for several days afterward to finish removing their belongings.

Austin said he learned they would have to move the day after Christmas.

"I was at my nálí's (paternal grandmother) and my mother called and said we were moving," Austin remembered. "My mom said that we were not paying our rent so we had to get out by Monday."

His nálí lives in St. Michaels, Ariz.

"The (Sandstone Housing) office said to pay your rent and we tried," Austin said, "but they wouldn't take partial payments so we didn't pay."

Austin remembered moving into the brand new three-bedroom, two-bathroom house on Dec.4, 2004, but says he's not sorry to leave it.

"I'm glad we moved out," he said. "They were always bothering us. Now we can go some place else where they won't bother us."

"They" is Sandstone Housing, which manages the housing under a contract with the Navajo Housing Authority.

On Tuesday, Sandstone Housing chief financial officer Dana L. Denny refused to comment, saying he's been "misquoted too many times."

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