JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- On October 3rd-- letters went around to people living in the Shannon Ridge Apartment complex. The message: your lease has been terminated. Anyone caught inside their unit without a pass from the city will be fined $500.
"They don't deserve to be treated like animals and dogs, and I haven't really seen anybody who has come forth to help these people," Linda Dayson said.
Dayson, President of Hurting Families with Children in Crime, couldn't be more upset. Some of the Shannon Ridge buildings have been condemned due to poor conditions, leaving 67 families displaced. She says it's an ongoing issue.
"It's been jacked up for years. I do mean years," she continued.
You name it, most likely it's happened at least once. From electrical shortages to leaks to all out flooding.
One woman, who did not want to be identified...says she's worried about her health and the health of her disabled son.
"The ceiling in the bathroom, it fell in. I've been mopping up more water," she explained.
Tenants were told their maintenance requests would be taken care of within 30 days. When we tried to confirm that with the manager, she told us not to take pictures of the property or speak to any employees.
At this point, the families are forced to go through the Code Violation Office with the city to get help.
This woman tells us she's fed up, and is moving away for good.
"Even if things get fixed, would you want to come back?" we asked.
"No. No I wouldn't," she said without hesitation.
"We're just one organization. It's going to take all of us to help these people and that's what we're supposed to be doing," Dayson said.
The city's welfare department is able to help out with deposits if tenants are able to leave Shannon Ridge and find another place to stay.
