Nonprofits help motel tenants find housing after eviction notices – WSOC TV

CHARLOTTE — The Housing Collaborative, a nonprofit organization, is helping residents of the Lamplighter Inn in northwest Charlotte find housing after the city announced it would close the motel because it was unsafe.

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68 tenants of the inn were evicted due to poor living conditions.

Two weeks ago, city officials told them they had to vacate the motel by Dec. 11.

Since then, several city partners, including the Crisis Assistance Ministry, have worked to place tenants in other hotels.

Tenant Tamara Jennings said Wednesday night was her first night in her new temporary home.

“I never thought I would ever have to use them as a resource,” she said.

Jennings is also receiving help from The Housing Collaborative to find permanent housing.

“This is the greatest Christmas present I’ve received,” said Housing Collaborative CEO Tara Peel.

It’s a gift that Jennings said included hot water and electricity, two things she had to go without for a while.

“I came here and saw that it was clean, spacious, the shower worked and the heater worked,” Jennings said. “Hot water is running. It just made it even better.”

The Housing Collaborative exists to streamline basic needs, Peel said.

“For us, it’s about the feeling that everyone deserves a roof over their head,” Peel said. “It’s simply a basic human need.”

Peel said they would help Lamplighter Inn tenants into permanent housing by also easing some of the financial burdens.

“Sometimes that means covering some of the upfront costs of housing if we have the means to do so — and removing those barriers,” Peel said.

Jennings said she has peace of mind knowing she will be warm for the holidays.

“I’m forever grateful because I get to spend Christmas indoors,” Jennings said.

She can move to permanent housing within a month.

The city continues to work with other tenants to provide them with housing before the Dec. 11 deadline.

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