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'Get out of that situation,' families facing homelessness plead for community's help
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BATON ROUGE - Evicted families in the capital area say their story shows just how easy it is to become homeless, and how difficult it is to rebuild a life. This comes as federal data reports the first reduction in homelessness in almost a decade.
Last Friday evening, people in multiple units at an apartment on Tigerland Avenue found themselves evicted.
2 On Your Side previously covered the apartment complex when the site was deemed a nuisance by a judge.
According to Ward Constable David Wade, the property was recently purchased by a new owner who evicted some tenants because they did not have proof they paid rent.
Jaylyn Holt, a 20-year-old with guardianship of a 3-year-old girl, was among those evicted. She spoke to WBRZ four days after the eviction.
"Me, my family, my friends, we all got put out together, so we're trying to stick together," Holt said.
Evicted tenant Freda Washington says she paid her rent but, because she paid in cash, has no proof of it.
"I just gave him money two weeks ago, and now I've got to go? I wasn't even in here a whole month," Washington said.
Holt said she stayed in the apartment for several months, never received a lease, and paid each month in cash. After requesting a lease multiple times, Holt said she stopped paying rent until she was provided a lease.
"I stopped paying because I had no lease," Holt said. "I had no proof, so why would I continue to pay you in these apartments that are so messed up. You didn't give me a lease, and you're making me pay different amounts of money [each month]."
Danyell Henriques of Heavens Care in Ascension Parish assists with emergency placements for people facing homelessness. She said Holt and Washington's situation is not uncommon.
"They could be working, next day, they're evicted. It could just be as just getting behind on one bill," Henriques said.
Holt says she does not have her driver's license, Social Security card or any other form of documentation. Without it, Henriques says it can be hard for people to qualify for housing or food assistance.
"A lot of times, they have no income. With no income, they may need an ID, whether that's to get into a motel, get into permanent housing or even to just get mail. They may have applied to Social Security or a job, but without an ID, they can't get a job," Henriques said.
Holt says she and Washington are counting on the help of others to get through it.
"It's scary, not having the resources to get out of that situation," Holt said.
WBRZ reached out to the Mayor's Office of Homelessness Prevention, who said it would be reaching out to the families.
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