Residents forced out of affordable apartments – WSOC TV
GASTONIA, N.C. — Some Gastonia residents say they’re worried about being evicted by apartment complex owners and becoming homeless.
[ LINK: AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES ]
Apple Tree Apartments handed out notices to these residents Thursday morning.
Currently, tenants have less than 60 days to vacate their West Fifth Street apartments.
The residents moved in before the pandemic caused rents to skyrocket, but they still pay about $550 a month in rent.
According to RentCafe.com, the average rent in Gastonia is twice that.
“I don’t have anywhere to go,” resident Wanda McGill said.
McGill has health issues that limit her mobility and lives on a disability check that pays her $820 a month.
Her $520 monthly rent at Apple Tree has remained unchanged for three years.
McGill said she can’t afford the city’s average rent of $1,300 a month.
“I think it’s going to go to the Salvation Army somewhere, but I don’t know,” McGill said.
She and 11 other tenants were told Thursday morning they had until Nov. 30 to move out.
The owner sold the property and said the new owner would take plenty of time to find a new home.
“I don’t like this,” said resident Lila Moore. “This is what they gave us today.”
Moore said she couldn’t believe it when she read the eviction notice.
Her movement is also restricted and she does not own a car.
“I don’t know where it’s going to go,” Moore said. “I have nowhere to go. I’ve been here for years, but now I have to go.”
Channel 9’s Ken Lemon called and emailed the contact information listed for the new property owner, asking what they planned to do with the apartment.
He is waiting for a reply.
Video: Affordable housing is demolished and replaced with more expensive housing
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