BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Inner city tenants in Bridgeport are fighting back against who they call a heartless out of state landlord. They claim the landlord who purchased the property has served them with an unlawful eviction.
Several multi-family buildings on Howe Street were just bought by a New York landlord. On Monday, the tenants held a rally to protest their sudden eviction and to call on city and state leaders to stand with them.
“They think that we don’t know our rights,” said tenant Leslie Caraballo.
Caraballo has lived on Howe Street in Bridgeport with her young daughter for the last five years. A few weeks ago, she was suddenly slapped with an eviction notice that gave her seven days to get out.
“I don’t know what my plan is because right now it’s like who is going to rent out to me?” asked Caraballo.
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She is just one of more than 30 families facing imminent eviction after the landlord operating as Yoso Properties bought several buildings in a transaction totaling over $6.5 million.
“Landlords who are moving into the city of Bridgeport. Buying up loads of property and giving people a week or two weeks to find somewhere else to go,” described State Sen. Herron Keyon Gaston of Bridgeport.
Gaston joined the rally to support the tenants and call out property predators for contributing to a state affordable housing crisis. He and other advocates like Make the Road CT support legislative action including a rent cap and a bill that would require ‘just cause’ evictions.
“This is our community. They are tearing us all apart. Breaking our buildings down to make better luxury buildings just to make them richer,” said Giselle Chapez of Make the Road CT.
Bridgeport City Council President Aidee Nieves said she has been in close contact with the new landlords to broker a deal on behalf of tenants.
"Low income and affordable housing is really scarce here in the city of Bridgeport," she said, adding "how hard it is for our families to relocate.”
Nieves said the landlord is evicting the tenants in order to renovate the apartments and verbally agreed to pay for relocation.
“I want them to put that in writing,” said Nieves. “He did say that they are willing to allow them to live for 1-3 months without paying rent to assist with their relocation.”
Tenants said most of the people who live in the apartments are either elderly, disabled or have kids.
According to officials, situations just like this one are happening all across the state. They said that there not only needs to be more quality affordable housing, but also more safeguards in place to prevent low income rents from being exploited.
Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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