Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Many tenants may find themselves homeless.
As many as 15 families will have nowhere to go when they leave their condemned Glen Terrace apartments.
"This is an emergency situation," said Warsaw building inspector Pam Kennedy. "There's no time to sit and wait."
Kennedy condemned the last two of the five apartment buildings Wednesday, and the tenants must be out within 30 days after the condemnation date.
The first three buildings were condemned earlier this month, and those tenants have already moved.
The difficulty, Kennedy said, is that Glen Terrace apartments are government-subsidized, which means tenants pay rent according to their income level. Most of the residents who now have to move out, she said, can't afford the damage deposit and large rents they must pay for available apartments, and other government-subsidized apartment complexes are full.
Kennedy has been working on finding the tenants new homes, but there are about 15 families out of 40 who still have no place to go.
"When subsidized housing is built, it's supposed to be an asset to the community, not a liability," Kennedy said.
The apartment complex comprises five buildings of eight apartments each. Warsaw's building department condemned the apartments because of the breakdown of the fire separation between apartments.
"This is a life safety issue," said Michael Wilson, fire safety inspector for Warsaw Fire Department. "I don't want to put anyone's life at risk of accidental fire or any firefighter's life at risk."
The complex also is without any effective management. The apartments are owned by John Call, of Syracuse, and until recently were managed by Sterling Management. Call terminated Sterling as manager and hired Steve Walters of Justice Management, Nappanee. However, Call said, Sterling was supposed to continue until the end of June, but hasn't followed through.
Since no manager has been on-site, tenants who move out haven't received their damage deposits or rent refunds to help with moving expenses.
Many social service agencies in the area can help with some things, such as food, but they cannot provide money for a damage deposit or first month's rent, Kennedy said.
Our Father's House has offered to furnish trucks and labor to help tenants move, and to be a clearinghouse for donations for the tenants.
Call said he talked to tenants recently and told them not to pay rent if they are going to move, since they will need the money for new apartments.
Residents also are concerned about what school their children will attend if they move to a different school district within Warsaw Community Schools.
Assistant district superintendent Dr. Tony Etienne said Wednesday that parents with concerns should call him or superintendent Dr. Lee Harman at 267-3238 to see if something can be worked out. Etienne said the situation is unique and is one that the school corporation has not faced before.
Still, the most pressing need is for affordable housing the tenants can move into quickly.
Meanwhile, Kennedy and the building department are working with Call to see that the repairs are made and that the tenants are treated fairly during the transition period.
"It wasn't these people's fault," said Kennedy of the tenants who live in the condemned apartments. "They're desperate."
Any landlords who want to make housing available to the Glen Terrace tenants may call the Warsaw building department at 372-9548. The department will try to match landlords with tenants.
