TEMPLE, Texas — Tenants living at the Barrington Suites in Temple are being forced to leave their homes after the apartment buildings endured extensive damage when tornadoes hit Temple on May 22.
6 News contacted the City of Temple to learn more details on what led to this. City spokesperson Megan Price said this:
"Barrington Suites sustained visible damage from the storm that took place on May 22. Based on a site visit and information provided by the contractor, the buildings will have to be brought up to code. At this time, the City has not received construction plans for the project, and no permits have been requested." - Megan Price
For tenants like Melinda Bass, communication between management at the Barrington Suites and the City of Temple has not been clear.
"It's been one thing after another since the tornado," Bass explained. "Nobody seems to know what's going on. I go to the office to pay my rent and I have one manager telling me to not pay my rent."
Bass has lived at Barrington Suites since December 2023 and hasn't had any issues with her unit until recently. She hasn't paid her rent because she doesn't know when exactly she'll need to leave.
"I can use that same rent money for a down payment somewhere else," Bass said.
Now that Bass has to leave her apartment, she's been searching for an affordable home to live in, but that hasn't been easy.
"I don't have other arrangements to make," Bass told 6 News. "I called apartment complexes to rent everywhere in Temple and they don't have anything. The Housing Authority has a waiting list so literally when they come to do the building, I have nowhere to go."
Another tenant, Sergio Ramirez, has been living at the Barrington Suites for over five years and is devastated by having to leave.
"We're stacking our money so we can find somewhere to go," Ramirez added. "I don't have anywhere to go right now but I just hope everything works out."
There is no exact date on when tenants have to leave their units. 6 News talked with the manager at the apartments but they declined to go on the record about what's happening.
Price added that various resources available to residents needing assistance with housing can be found on the City’s Housing Resource Center web page.
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