About a dozen tenants in Old East Dallas are facing an affordable housing crisis.
The tenants are being forced to move out of an older apartment complex in a neighborhood where high-end developments are taking over.
The Bryan Song Apartments were built in 1955 go for $800 a month. It’s a price that is getting hard to find in Dallas, especially just 10 minutes from downtown.
Residents are scared after they received notices on December 10 that they have to be out by February 10.
Dionne Lee hasn’t been able to find anywhere to go with her kids, ages 17 and 14, and her grandson who is 2 years old.
“They’re knocking down the old apartments and building up condominiums,” she said. “It’s kind of hard. Everywhere I go, my income they say I have to double the amount for a one bedroom. I’m paying $800 now.
Kimberly Paschall, a mother of a 9-year-old boy, has an even more complicated situation. She has a criminal record for prostitution.
“This was my safe location from a domestic violence trafficking shelter,” she said. “Moving here was my break. Finally get to be a mom.”
Paschall worries her options have run out and will have to go to a shelter.
David Eitches is the new owner of the apartments, He said by phone that he’s “looking into options. I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep. I will do my best to accommodate them so no one is out on the streets.”
Tuesday’s news conference was organized by the Texas Tenant’s Association.
Sandy Rollins with the TTA says the landlord wasn’t breaking any laws by asking tenants to leave in 60 days. That’s why she wants to see laws change.
“They’re not doing anything too far out of the norm. The problem is the norm is unacceptable,” she said. “Texas Tenant Landlord code does not protect tenants when an owner redevelops.”
Oregon, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Austin require relocation assistance when tenants are displaced for new development.
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