Some Jaycee Towers residents are worried that their rents may increase by amounts ranging from $37 to $56 within the next four months.

“It’s too much at one time,” said 75-year-old Elsie Brooks, who lives in the housing development in the Westside. Her rent is proposed to increase from $415 to $465 by October, she said.

Chip Griffin, owner of Lookout Property Management, which operates Jaycee Towers I Apartments, said he sent a request for rent increases to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this month. Mr. Griffin said the new rents are necessary to cover operating expenses.

“We’ve been paying money out that we haven’t got rent increases for,” he said. “We pay the electricity for all our residents. Electric Power Board went up 4 percent last July and 10 percent this April. The water went up 12.9 percent last year and (officials) requested another 20 percent this year.”

The property management company also has seen an increase in property insurance, Mr. Griffin said. The rent increase is necessary to generate a profit for the company, he said.

“We’re spending every penny that we take in,” he said. “There’s no distribution to owners. Nothing.”

Towers resident Leola Carr said the proposed increase is so high she may have to move out.

“I can’t afford it,” said Ms. Carr, a Towers resident for more than a decade.

Residents have 30 days to submit written comments about the increase to the Towers management office. Mr. Griffin said he will send the comments along with another copy of his request to HUD.

Residents also may submit complaints directly to HUD or to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Mr. Griffin said.

He said the 190-unit complex has about 147 residents. Many of them are at least age 50 or on disability, residents said.

Records show about 103 residents receive Housing Choice program rental assistance vouchers, but Ms. Brooks, a diabetic, said the increase may cause her to have to skip one financial need to pay another.

“I already have to pay for seven different medications and buy certain foods,” she said. “Diabetics can’t eat everything, and I have to pay the phone bill.”

Mr. Griffin said it has been five years since residents who aren’t on Housing Choice vouchers have experienced a rent increase.

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