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Relocation Issues Affecting Residents At Summit Avenue Apartment Complex

"I don't have the money, I don't have nothing to do, now I don't have a job and if I have to move this time I don't know what's going on after that," said Iruna.

GREENSBORO, NC (WFMY) -- After 'City of Greensboro' officials condemned dozens of apartment units Wednesday, several local families now have to find new places to live.

In May, five young children died in a fire in one of the units at the Summit Avenue Apartment complex.

The notices were issued to the residents of apartments after city inspectors discovered that 41 of 42 units are still not in compliance with the city's Minimum Housing Code. City officials say the property owner, ARCO Realty, failed to fix several violations which were identified in May following the devastating fire.

The managers have only been able to tackle 144 violations since the May inspection and have nearly 700 left to address. ARCO Realty asked for a 30-day extension on August 13 but was turned down by the city. Now 31 families living in the complex, many of them refugees with limited ability to speak English, have 30 days to pack up and find new homes.

It's a situation many of them said is overwhelming and frustrating

"You say I gonna move out without knowing where I'm going? Does not make sense," said Mpango Iruna, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. His family has lived in the complex for one year and he is uncertain about the next step he has to take.

"I don't have the money, I don't have nothing to do, now I don't have a job and if I have to move this time I don't know what's going on after that," said Iruna.

The Greensboro Housing Coalition has stepped in to help facilitate the relocation process for the families.

Meantime, interpreters are working with staff from the UNCG based Center For New North Carolinians to notify residents about the developments.

"This is kind of day one of this so a lot of the service providers are trying to mobilize and get information out there we just need a little bit more time," said Holly Sienkiewicz, the director of the Center For New North Carolinians.

They are also identifying immediate needs to help the families with the moving process.

"Getting a truck, renting a physical moving van if that's necessary, helping the families pack up and then actually resettle in their new apartments," said Sienkiewicz.

Finding homes for the families is just one part of several considerations which have to be made during the resettlement process.

"There are concerns that are coming up like how is my child going to go to school, what school is my child going to go now and we are trying to assist them in the best way we can working with the Greensboro Housing Coalition," said Zaynah Afada, a student from Guilford Tech Community College. Afada is a Bonner Scholars who volunteers with the community outreach center which was set up at the apartment complex.

Other factors which may need to be considered include keeping extended families together, proximity to grocery stores and a bus line as many of the residents do not drive.

Several non-profits have planned to meet over the next few days with the Greensboro Housing Coalition to brainstorm on how to relocate these residents by the September 14 deadline.

A housing fair is also being considered for August 25th at a yet to be determined location. The fair would bring Landlords and various non-profits under one roof so that residents can seek out options for housing.

"We'll need people to help people physically move, so we are looking for churches, community groups and individuals who want to help," said Sienkiewicz.

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