In March, new owners increased the monthly rent. They also said that Section 8 vouchers, which subsidize rent, would no longer be accepted. After some lobbying by concerned groups, the owners and housing authorities were able to reach an agreement that vouchers from current residents would be accepted. But about 40 percent of residents there also have been supported by a federal rental assistance program that ends in August.

There is no replacement program, so there are no more funds to subsidize low rent for tenants.

Complicating the low-income issue is that many of the refugee residents have a significant learning curve when it comes to Western life. Many have lived in refugee camps for decades, and life skills that Americans take for granted — technology, language, bill paying and other complications of contemporary living — can take years for some refugees to learn.

Educators at area schools, social workers and a bevy of community groups came together early to help refugee children and adults with the difficult transitions.

Teams of faculty and students from the U. department of family and consumer studies began working early on with community partners and Hartland residents. They built a financial fitness program through the University Neighborhood Partnership-Hartland Center, an on-site campus where a variety of classes are offered in subjects like homebuyer education, health access, English as a second Language and early childhood programs.

"It's quite a unique situation there," Rendon said. "Those programs really help the families get oriented into our societies. If all those families are dispersed, it's going to be very difficult to rebuild that."

The new owners weren't present at Wednesday's meeting, but Zions Bank officials are in talks with them about buying the property, Rendon said.

Rendon couldn't say what the property is worth, but Salt Lake County property records show it valued at $10 million in 2005, $11.3 million in 2006 and proposed at $16.2 million value for 2007.

Also raised in discussion Wednesday is the sobering fact: This is not an isolated problem. "There are other affordable housing complexes up for sale," Crim said. And the community must find a proactive way to deal with these concerns, he said.

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E-mail: lucy@desnews.com