Sarah Harper credits her declining health to a series of concerning issues at her Welch Avenue apartment.
She is one of roughly 35 Ames residents who were forced to move on Saturday because their landlord didn't keep his properties up to code.
The Ames Inspection Division notified tenants at 228 and 232 Welch Avenue on May 31 that they must vacate the structure within 30 days unless the rental property meets code.
Nineteen units owned by Greg Wilson weren't up to code, Ames Building Inspector Sara Van Meeteren said. The city discovered several broken windows, leaks, electrical and plumbing issues and missing smoke detectors.
The City of Ames delivered a “reminder to vacate” notice to tenants, stating that it would be "a violation of the municipal code to continue to rent the property, and all occupants will need to vacate the structures.”
The notice also said that “it is very unlikely” that the owner will have addressed the code violations by June 30, and that the current tenants should “begin seeking alternative housing arrangements immediately.”
Van Meeteren said residents were instructed to vacate the buildings by Saturday.
"Tenants were made aware at the beginning of June that the property would likely need to be vacated at the end of June," Van Meeteren said. "With each notice, the tenants received a list of local resources including local funding agencies that assist with housing concerns."
This is the first time Van Meeteren has seen this many Ames residents displaced at one time since she joined the City of Ames in 2011.
The Ames City Council dedicated $25,000 to Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team (ASSET) funds during its meeting Tuesday to assist displaced residents at the properties. The monies will be used for their next apartment's deposit and rent, while some of the money will be used for hotel rooms.
Broken windows, leaks and electrical issues plague apartments
The city identified a bevy of concerning issues at each apartment building. The inspectors reported broken windows, fuel-burning appliances without proper certification, missing smoke detectors, plumbing leaks, improper fusing, unsafe electrical cords, missing and broken outlets. The roof also needs to be repaired.
Van Meeteren said the city is working with its legal department to determine whether action will be taken against the buildings' landlord.
Since the property's Letter of Compliance (LOC) will be revoked on June 29, it cannot be rented until all issues are resolved and a new LOC is issued.
Property owner Greg Wilson did not respond to the Tribune's request for comment.
Residents face dire living conditions
Harper has lived in her Welch Avenue apartment for six years and cooks with bottled water, refusing to drink the contaminated tap water.
"I have to let the water in the bathtub run for five minutes because it comes out brown," Harper said. "I can’t cook with the regular water; I have to buy bottled water in order to cook."
Harper's air conditioning also has issues and must be left running continuously for three to four days to work, which she said drives her bills up. The windows in her apartment don't open and leaks in her closet have allowed mold to grow, ruining a few of her shoes and clothes.
Harper said she has no longterm plan when she moves out, planning to temporarily bunk with a friend.
"I have a friend to stay with for a couple of days, and the only thing she’s willing to help with is to let my furniture stay at her apartment," Harper said. "But I still need help to get that stuff moved over to her place."
Charlie and Linda have had similar problems in their units since moving in four years ago. They switched apartments after a window to the fire escape wouldn't open.
Their current bathroom sink has been clogged for three months, while their toilet "can't be cleaned." The tenants also say their apartment parking lot isn't regulated and is often filled on the weekends by non-tenants. The issues have not yet been resolved despite repeated calls to the manager.
Charlie and Linda have struggled to find a new home because they have two cats and most hotel rooms don't allow pets. Charlie doesn't want to move without his rescue cat, who he said would suffer without her owners.
"She hates everybody except for me and Linda, because she was abused before we got her," Charlie said. "She will freak out without us."
What will city funds cover?
The $25,000 from the city will be split two ways: $18,500 will cover the displaced residents' next deposit and first month's rent assistance, while $6,500 will be used for a temporary emergency shelter, which typically is used for hotel rooms.
The money was pulled from unspent ASSET funds.
ASSET is a partnership between the City of Ames, United Way of Story County, Story County, Iowa State University Student Government, and Central Iowa Community Services. The ASSET team helps coordinate human services planning and provides assistance in funding recommendations or allocations in Story County.
Salvation Army of Ames' service center coordinator, Kathy Pinkerton, met with many of the Welch Avenue residents and noted that there is "definitely a need" for relocation services.
"The majority of them, if they do have income it's social security; usually that's Supplemental Security Income (SSI), so it's a $900 range," Pinkerton said. "They don't have a way to get their belongings out, they don't have any place to put their belongings."
The council was adamant that the funds were for ASSET to decide how to use them, though the team requested the money on behalf of the displaced tenants.
Salvation Army receives additional funding
The Salvation Army has already received $5,000 for 2024-25 to purchase emergency shelter services. To address the growing need, the organization requested an additional $100,000 for the next fiscal year.
The Salvation Army first noticed a significant need for emergency shelter services this spring. Leadership discovered it was time to increase the hotel voucher program and add a full-time resource coordinator.
"We're providing a service, and providing it at an exponentially increasing rate over the last several years," Pinkerton said. "What we've been about all along is to try and provide resources to folks and connect them with other social services agencies prior to them becoming homeless."
Additional funding was requested in April to assist with the Salvation Army's push for additional services.
The Ames City Council dedicated $40,000 to the Salvation Army for additional emergency services in May.
Pinkerton said the Salvation Army is not necessarily asking for the money, but rather that they have access to money that is already available.
Ward 2 City Councilman Tim Gartin said the Salvation Army's request was a "good opportunity" for the council to acknowledge the increase in homelessness in Ames, which becomes even more of a concern during the summer.
"We have a community that's very compassionate, trying to do the best it can to help provide services," Gartin said. "This seems like a very reasonable thing."
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
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