A series of events last spring and summer threatened to allow scores of young refugees to fall through the cracks.

An apartment complex that had been home to hundreds of refugee families changed ownership, and a wave of tenants were displaced from their homes at 1700 South and Redwood Road because of higher rents, "nonrenewable" leases and policy changes at the property known as Hartland.

Calls to the apartment complex management were not returned, but refugee advocates estimate 60 to 80 percent of families were evicted or had leases that were not renewed.

Lee called the apartment owner's actions "heinous."

"It was despicable that in the name of profit they took away an immeasurable amount from people."

At the time, 14-year-old Abdio Mohammed cried as her family packed up their few belongings. She was moving away from her grandmother, her relatives. Mohammed's mother was losing access to child care, English classes and support systems from a special program located at the complex to assist refugees.

"We wanted to stay here," the girl said. "But everybody has to move."

The property, recently renamed the Seasons at Pebble Creek, was a unique respite for refugees, and the upheaval threatened the already fragile stability and livelihood of the fragile population.

The new owner had increased monthly rents and quit accepting Section 8 housing vouchers, which helped to subsidize rents. In addition, about 40 percent of residents were supported by a federal rental assistance program that ended last summer.

In the end, about 150 families were displaced. Some received nonrenewal notices, which meant they had no choice but to move. In other cases, families were given a chance to renew leases but only for 10 months. Federal low-income housing subsidies require a one-year contract.

Hartland had been a resettlement site for the two primary refugee agencies in Salt Lake City. A large population of Somali Bantu refugees lived at the complex.

The fact is that, through no fault of their own, some refugees don't have the most basic of living skills, observers say.

Refugees from Africa have some of the most challenging circumstances. Most do not speak English, but more impactful is that they cannot read or write in their own language, so the whole system of letters, numbers and symbols is foreign.

So as families received notices about their housing, volunteers like Moses walked them through the elaborate transition — looking for and applying for apartments and helping their new friends understand leases, deposits, contracts and other details.