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Housing Justice Now argues in their release that “if the residents are forced to leave, they will face a housing market where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,151,” according to data from Rent.com. Currently the residents are paying around $450 a month for their one-bedroom apartments.

The only thing the residents wanted, according to the release, was a repair to the stairwell. “They do not wish to be kicked out,” the statement reads.

The release also stated that residents have signed a petition asking the city to stop their efforts of trying to move them out, provide new leases to tenants locking in the current rent rate and make immediate repairs to the staircases. The group has started an email campaign for community members to reach out to city council as well, resulting in 200 messages as of Wednesday morning.

HJN organizer Daniel Rose cited Mayor Allen Joines’ goal to develop more affordable housing for the city.

“The commitment that he made last year for 750 units has already not been fulfilled,” Rose said during the meeting. The city missed their mark by 300 units last year.

“We’re seeing that this city is not really the City of Arts and Innovation right now, it’s the City of Broken Promises,” Rose said.

“How did you all not know that you owned 1200 Willie Davis?” Rose asked, a statement that was met with trickles of laughter from members of the crowd.

The city has promised to pay tenants $500 to help with fees residents may accrue as they resettle, such as utility transfers. Housing search and counseling services are being offered by the city as well with assistance from Financial Pathways of the Piedmont. Tenants will also be given preference if they want to move back in once the city has renovated the apartments.

But critics like Rose say that finding an affordable apartment for the amount the city is offering will be near impossible in this market.

“There is no housing in Winston-Salem at $420 to $450 a month for a one-bedroom in decent quality,” Rose said. “There is no reason to put them out to inspect that property. Code enforcement comes in all the time with residents in place…. This is about gentrification.”

Another HJN member, Renee Wimbish, brought up the current situation at Crystal Towers, a 200-unit affordable housing high-rise owned by the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem. Renovations were anticipated to begin last year, however Wimbish said that crucial repairs to amenities like the elevators have not yet been made. Many of the residents in Crystal Towers are disabled.

“People [are] sleeping down in the lobby because they can’t get back up into their room,” Wimbish said.“Everyone here should be ashamed, utterly ashamed, of what you’re doing to our most vulnerable citizens…. And you expect these residents to trust you to fulfill these promises?”

In an interview with TCB, community activist Arnita Miles expressed concern about what will become of the residents who are set to be displaced.

“It is greatly affecting low-income people,” Miles said. “Where can you go in Winston Salem to find rent for under $350? There’s no place. So, where are they supposed to go?”

This piece is part of our CityBeat that covers city council business, made possible by a grant from the NC Local News Lab Fund, available to republish for free by any news outlet who cares to use it.