HOUSTON – Tenants at the Crestmont Village Apartments in southeast Houston were relieved when they learned they'd have until the end of the month to find a new place to live after a judge ordered the complex shut down on Oct. 30.
The property is being condemned after multiple health and safety violations.
"We literally thought we were going to be homeless because we were told that today by the 8th they were going to shut down the place and kick us all out," Christina Douglas said.
Douglas is among the families who've been forced to live in filthy, deplorable conditions.
Residents had been living in the dark for weeks after power to the property was cut because the owners hadn't paid the electric bill in several months. People living in 37 of the 54 units still occupied have received some sort of public assistance to find new housing.
Gerald Womack, a Houston realtor, oversees day to day operations at the property. A judge appointed him as receiver of the site. He's worried most about those, who for whatever reason, won't qualify for another place to live, perhaps because of a criminal record.
"We've been outreaching to any other service agencies who have sources of housing or who deal with homelessness to help us help relocate these families," Womack said.
Renters, like Phillip White, are looking forward to what they hope will be a brighter future somewhere else.
"We don't really know if it's going to be enough time but it's a blessing we got this three week," White said.
Another hearing is set for Nov. 16. A judge could officially sign the order to have the apartment complex demolished, if that ends up being the city's wishes.