Ousted tenants still scrambling for housing

HAZEL DELL — Low-income residents at Ghim Village have until Wednesday to move out, but many haven’t secured their next place to call home.

Earlier this month, more than 50 people, including 33 children enrolled in Vancouver Public Schools, got 20-day notices to vacate their homes. Ghim Village is slated to undergo renovations intended to “provide a cleaner and healthier environment” for residents, according to the notice. The complex came under new management and ownership this summer.

Glenda Cavallero, 59, moved to the townhouse complex, 1304 N.E. 88th St., about 15 years ago, after a drug bust left several units there vacant. Back then, it was easy to get into a unit despite criminal records or bad credit history, and there was no security deposit.

“This was one of the last places that was forgiving,” she said.

In August 2004, back when it was called Red Haven Apartments, a drive-by shooting suspect hid in her townhouse while SWAT swarmed the complex. The criminal activity has since eased up, and the complex has become a somewhat pleasant place to live, despite ongoing maintenance issues, Cavallero said. Tenants there have dealt with plumbing and structural problems, which were patched up but not fixed completely, she said. She added that she’d like to see the complex torn down and rebuilt.

“If they don’t bulldoze it down, it will be sad,” Cavallero said.

Cavallero found an 800-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment in Vancouver renting for $900 a month, which she’ll share with a roommate.

“There are so many people out there scavenging right now,” Cavallero said. She considers herself one of the lucky ones to have secured housing, even if it’s a “crackerbox” apartment.

“I’m still downsizing,” Cavallero said. Her son helped her throw out a glass end table and a dresser. “I’d rather lose possessions than not have a roof over my head.”

Having not searched for an apartment in more than a decade, Cavallero was shocked to find few available rentals under $1,000 monthly. She lives off of disability income.

“I had no idea until I went shopping how bad it was going to be,” she said. “It’s very hard to find adequate housing whatever class you are.”

Khanh Nguyen, 44, and his son, Kevin Nguyen, 12, haven’t found a new place to rent, and are splitting up to live with different family members. While packing possessions into a truck on Monday afternoon, Khanh Nguyen said he will live with his mother in Longview, while Kevin is going to live in Vancouver with his aunt, so he still can attend Gaiser Middle School.

The chaos has left some Ghim Village children feeling anxious at school, said Tamara Shoup, director of family-community resource centers and family engagement for Vancouver Public Schools.

“The priority for the school is to stabilize the kids as best we can,” Shoup said. “All in all, there’s a feeling that the families are working hard to try and find housing.”

Staff at Sarah J Anderson Elementary School have been trying to connect families with resources and get them access to funds provided by the Council for the Homeless. About 20 families are using the emergency fund for application fees, deposits and other moving expenses. So far, six families have been placed in housing, Shoup said. Those people experienced a significant jump in rent. One woman is paying $1,400 a month for her place, Shoup said.

“We don’t know how many others are still in transition or have found housing on their own,” she said.

They’ll have a better idea after Wednesday, moving day. St. John Lutheran Church in Hazel Dell plans to help people move on Wednesday and is giving out grocery gift cards.