Seeking refuge: Displaced Utah families struggle to find housing

Abdio Mohammed moved out of her home Saturday. The 14-year-old moved away from her friends, away from her grandma a few doors down and away from the uncle who helped her family navigate this new country a world away from the African land where she was born.

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

Abdio, her parents and her little brother and sister are part of a wave of tenants being displaced from an apartment complex at 1700 South and Redwood Road because of higher rents, "nonrenewable" leases and policy changes under new ownership at the property known as the Hartland.

"This is a crisis," said Merrie Lee, who supervises volunteers who address the complicated needs of residents there.

The property, recently renamed the Seasons at Pebble Creek due to an ownership change, is not your average apartment complex — and many say upheaval on these grounds threatens the stability and livelihood of a population with a traumatic history that is fragile enough already.

The issue started last spring as a simple property ownership transition.

In March, a new owner — Mark Hamilton of San Francisco — increased the monthly rent by $50 to $200. Hamilton's partnership also said Section 8 vouchers, which subsidize rent, would no longer be accepted. After lobbying by concerned groups, the owners and housing authorities were able to reach an agreement that vouchers from current residents would be accepted.

In addition, approximately 40 percent of Hartland residents were supported by a federal rental assistance program that ends in August. There is no replacement program.

In the end, as many as 175 families may be displaced. Up to 80 families are already gone. Another 60-65 families will be receiving non-renewal notices from now until the end of August, which means they all must 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.

"Regardless of the exact reason, the impact has been the same," Lee said. "It's just tragic."

Multiple phone calls to new managers of the complex this past week were not returned.

This past week, Lee took five residents around looking for housing because, she said, "they are headed for the homeless shelters. It's that critical. We hope we can at least save them from homelessness."