Dozens of people were forced to pack up their belongings and leave an International Drive motel where they had been living on Monday morning.The city of Orlando condemned the Howard Johnson by Wyndham motel because of what officials call “immediate life safety concerns.” The property has no working fire alarm system, and all utilities were cut off on Monday.Many people told WESH 2 they had nowhere to go. “I’ve been here for two years,” Candi Glenn said. “They collected everyone’s money. Turned the water off, everyone’s got to go. Look at all the people standing around with their kids.”Glenn had been living at the Howard Johnson with her three children. She did not know where she was going to move next.The Coalition for the Homeless stepped in to provide shelter for five families. The charity brought vans and SUVs to the motel and drove them to another motel.”They’re giving us a hotel for two weeks, and then they’re going to give us an apartment, we got blessed,” said Christopher Wilcox, who’s been staying at the motel with his family, including three young daughters.The property owner, Rore Orlando I-Drive LLC, is evicting them, leaving nearly 200 people searching for new housing options.Several residents, including a couple with three dogs, are struggling to find transportation for their belongings. The motel, located in a tourist area, has been home to about 60 families who have been paying weekly to live there. Motel resident Ronald Miller said flatly, “They deceived us!”He and his family have been living here while he works at a local restaurant.Now, they’re getting ready to find a new place to live on Monday morning. “It’s real stressful. Some people probably can’t sleep at night; it’s real. If anybody was to get in our shoes, they wouldn’t know what to do,” Wilcox said.The charitable Community Legal Services was on the property Monday as well to provide resources to evicted residents and gather information to take potential legal action against the owners.Many residents said the living conditions at the motel were horrible. They described moldy rooms with rodents and roaches. Trash could also be seen piled up in breezeways and in the parking lot.Despite its name, the motel is not owned by Wyndham. Records show the current owner is ROR Orlando I-Drive LLC. A man whom residents identified as the person who ran the property showed up at the motel on Monday, but refused to answer questions.
Dozens of people were forced to pack up their belongings and leave an International Drive motel where they had been living on Monday morning.
The city of Orlando condemned the Howard Johnson by Wyndham motel because of what officials call “immediate life safety concerns.”
The property has no working fire alarm system, and all utilities were cut off on Monday.
Many people told WESH 2 they had nowhere to go.
“I’ve been here for two years,” Candi Glenn said. “They collected everyone’s money. Turned the water off, everyone’s got to go. Look at all the people standing around with their kids.”
Glenn had been living at the Howard Johnson with her three children. She did not know where she was going to move next.
The Coalition for the Homeless stepped in to provide shelter for five families. The charity brought vans and SUVs to the motel and drove them to another motel.
“They’re giving us a hotel for two weeks, and then they’re going to give us an apartment, we got blessed,” said Christopher Wilcox, who’s been staying at the motel with his family, including three young daughters.
The property owner, Rore Orlando I-Drive LLC, is evicting them, leaving nearly 200 people searching for new housing options.
Several residents, including a couple with three dogs, are struggling to find transportation for their belongings.
The motel, located in a tourist area, has been home to about 60 families who have been paying weekly to live there.
Motel resident Ronald Miller said flatly, “They deceived us!”
He and his family have been living here while he works at a local restaurant.
Now, they’re getting ready to find a new place to live on Monday morning.
“It’s real stressful. Some people probably can’t sleep at night; it’s real. If anybody was to get in our shoes, they wouldn’t know what to do,” Wilcox said.
The charitable Community Legal Services was on the property Monday as well to provide resources to evicted residents and gather information to take potential legal action against the owners.
Many residents said the living conditions at the motel were horrible. They described moldy rooms with rodents and roaches. Trash could also be seen piled up in breezeways and in the parking lot.
Despite its name, the motel is not owned by Wyndham. Records show the current owner is ROR Orlando I-Drive LLC.
A man whom residents identified as the person who ran the property showed up at the motel on Monday, but refused to answer questions.