Landlord Fair Connects Displaced Renters With Affordable Housing Opportunities

Last weekend, the Greensboro Housing Coalition (GHC) took another step toward finding new, affordable housing for dozens of African refugees facing displacement. It was called a Landlord Fair, and for two hours on Saturday afternoon, the Pace of the Triad lobby in Greensboro looked a lot like a busy market, and housing was on sale.

There were tables set up with renter applications, for units available for less than $800 dollars per month, foreign language interpreters, and property managers.

GHC Director Brett Byerly says finding them was a big challenge.

“We only have a few landlords and property managers here so far,” says Byerly. “However, this is just one step in the process of helping the residents from across the street get into a new apartment.”

He estimates roughly 100 residents — mostly refugees from war-torn countries in Africa — attended the event.

Sudanese native Juma Adam Juma was among them. In mid-August he and his fellow tenants were given one month to vacate their current residence — a 42-unit complex, run by ARCO Realty. The buildings were condemned earlier this month for failing to resolve nearly 700 code violations. Juma says he's been shown two new apartments since Saturday, but now the waiting begins.

“I'm too worried about the family and the time is near and we didn't get the house,” says Juma. “We are on the waiting list, and the demand is two weeks. I don't know... if we don't get a house... what's going to happen.”

Juma, his wife and four children now have until mid-September to find a place. A coalition of nonprofits, church and student groups have committed to helping with relocation efforts.