Lonoke Family Forced Out of Home, Nowhere to Go
By: Josh Berry
Updated: October 7, 2012
Update:
An organization titled SOAR has set up a link for donations that can go directly to help the Hannah family.
Click here for more information.
Original Story:
A Lonoke County family is being forced out of their home and are now prepared to face the law as they feel they have no where to go.
They have till Sunday (10/7) to get out.
That's what the Lonoke County Sheriff's office told them by request of their landlord. This isn't your usual tenant/landlord battle though.
The tenants agreed to leave but say they don't know where to go and are looking for answers.
James Hannah, his wife and three kids, are getting out.
"The way the house is we need to move."
When they moved in a year ago, they made a list of things that needed repair:
Electrical outlets uncovered, rooms without doors, even gaps in the flooring.
"We've got holes where mice, snakes and what-have-you come up through," explained James Hannah as he pointed to a hole in his daugher's closet.
All tasks the family said the landlord promised to have taken care of a year ago after they moved in.
They claim it took threats of litigation from ater their son fell off of the porch for the landlord to even put a fence up. Even that's not finished yet.
It all reached a tipping point though when septic water started backing up, of all places, in their bathtub.
"It will literally start smelling like sewage all through our house."
They refused to continue to pay for a place falling apart.
They said that's when the landlord simply suggested they move out.
"We said okay that's fine... we'll get our stuff we'll find a place," Hannah explained.
Two days later however, they were given a piece of paper from the Lonoke County Sheriff's office that said they had to be out by this Sunday.
"It's scary more or less."
Scary, because they're paid through October and didn't expect to have to be out so soon.
Now, they can't afford a move and the deposits required to get into a new place.
With the eviction looming, the Hannah's are hoping for answers from anyone as to where they can go.
Hannah said, "That's our main thing trying to get out of this is our three kids and making sure they have a roof over their head."
So Monday morning, if they haven't finished packing and found that roof for their kids, the Sheriff may show up at their door, standing on a porch held up by a floor jack. James and his wife are prepared to face the law because they have no other choice.
"That's just a chance we have to take right now."
They're sending their 3 children to their mother's house, just in case they get jail time for not moving out. They hope to have a solution by then.
We tried to get in touch with the landlord and authorities to discuss this eviction but no one was available.
An organization titled SOAR has set up a link for donations that can go directly to help the Hannah family.
Click here for more information.
Original Story:
A Lonoke County family is being forced out of their home and are now prepared to face the law as they feel they have no where to go.
They have till Sunday (10/7) to get out.
That's what the Lonoke County Sheriff's office told them by request of their landlord. This isn't your usual tenant/landlord battle though.
The tenants agreed to leave but say they don't know where to go and are looking for answers.
James Hannah, his wife and three kids, are getting out.
"The way the house is we need to move."
When they moved in a year ago, they made a list of things that needed repair:
Electrical outlets uncovered, rooms without doors, even gaps in the flooring.
"We've got holes where mice, snakes and what-have-you come up through," explained James Hannah as he pointed to a hole in his daugher's closet.
All tasks the family said the landlord promised to have taken care of a year ago after they moved in.
They claim it took threats of litigation from ater their son fell off of the porch for the landlord to even put a fence up. Even that's not finished yet.
It all reached a tipping point though when septic water started backing up, of all places, in their bathtub.
"It will literally start smelling like sewage all through our house."
They refused to continue to pay for a place falling apart.
They said that's when the landlord simply suggested they move out.
"We said okay that's fine... we'll get our stuff we'll find a place," Hannah explained.
Two days later however, they were given a piece of paper from the Lonoke County Sheriff's office that said they had to be out by this Sunday.
"It's scary more or less."
Scary, because they're paid through October and didn't expect to have to be out so soon.
Now, they can't afford a move and the deposits required to get into a new place.
With the eviction looming, the Hannah's are hoping for answers from anyone as to where they can go.
Hannah said, "That's our main thing trying to get out of this is our three kids and making sure they have a roof over their head."
So Monday morning, if they haven't finished packing and found that roof for their kids, the Sheriff may show up at their door, standing on a porch held up by a floor jack. James and his wife are prepared to face the law because they have no other choice.
"That's just a chance we have to take right now."
They're sending their 3 children to their mother's house, just in case they get jail time for not moving out. They hope to have a solution by then.
We tried to get in touch with the landlord and authorities to discuss this eviction but no one was available.
Comments
The living conditions described in this article are against the law. Why have charges not been made against this landlord for refusing to repair a residence which is in deplorable condition?
Milinda H.
October 7, 2012 at 9:47 pm
