CONTRIBUTED BY OBSERVER STAFF
OPELIKA — Ten days after nearly 120 long-term residents of the Springwood Hotel were evacuated at the request of the office of the Alabama State Fire Marshal, there is still no plan in place for repairing and reopening the property.
According to Dru Shah, manager of the Springwood on Columbus Parkway, the hotel is officially closed. Shah confirmed that the hotel owner, Pravinbhai Patel, received the official copy of the Alabama State Fire Marshal’s report late last week.
“We received paperwork from (the) state — the property is officially closed down by the state,” Shah said. “The state completed their inspection.”
Shah did not share specifics about the findings on the inspection report.
The hotel is now closed, and while some of the residents displaced have moved out of town, many are still in limbo due to a shortage of available rental units in Opelika and the surrounding area.
Last week the Opelika Police Department used its resources and provided hotel vouchers for several individuals. Dunlap and Ward Two Councilwoman Erica Norris also helped insure no one from the hotel was left on the streets last Tuesday night and have continued to work with those individuals.
What’s next?
Some former residents have successfully transitioned into more permanent housing, many are still in hotels, and have had to move from one hotel to another as the ongoing football season has also caused a temporary shortage of hotel rooms.
Room prices go up during the weekend making it difficult to find a place to stay for more than a few days at time. A quick search on the Internet for a room at one hotel for Tuesday night showed a price of $85 a night plus tax while the price for Saturday night was $289 plus tax for the same room.
Various organizations, businesses and individuals from around the area are working to help those affected, but the lack of affordable short-term housing and rental units is making it difficult.
“This area is lacking in rental properties,” said Emily Key, a business owner who works in the rental housing field. “This has caused the price of rent to steadily increase over the past few years. Hardworking people who can afford a home at first, cannot find one [now.] Once they hit that road block, they end up paying $300-500 a week for hotels while continuing their housing search. By the time a property is found, their funds are depleted. At that point, now they don’t have the $2,500 [or more] they would need to get into a house that rents for $1,000 a month. Once this cycle begins, there is truly no way for them to break it alone.”
The Alabama Rural Coalititon for the Homeless (ARCH) is one organization that has been helping people break that cycle.
ARCH’s website states that its mission is to help bridge the gap between housing and homelessness. It can provide both emergency and rental housing assistance.
At least seven individuals or families with children who had been living at Springwood completed intake forms with ARCH and two families are currently being aided by the organization.
“At ARCH, our commitment is to serve as the Continuum of Care (CoC) for our region, dedicated to ending homelessness and enhancing community support,” said Susan Ezell from ARCH. “Our primary goal is to collaborate closely with local agencies to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other sources, ensuring these resources are effectively utilized to assist those experiencing homelessness.
“Since 2008, we have been diligently serving as the CoC, working to bridge any gaps in service and provide continuous support. Over the years, we have successfully secured and distributed a significant amount of funding to Lee County, enabling local agencies to implement comprehensive programs that address the complex needs of our community.
“Our role extends beyond funding; we also offer guidance and expertise to local agencies, helping them navigate the intricacies of homeless assistance programs and best practices. By fostering strong partnerships and sharing knowledge, we aim to create a cohesive and effective response to homelessness, ultimately improving the lives of those in need.”
Regarding additional housing assistance, ARCH has a process to follow that may include coordinated entry, case management and if eligible assistance with a security deposit assistance.
Anyone in need of assistance can reach out ARCH’s office at (334) 273-0668 or visit its website at www.archconnection.org. People can also submit a request online at www.statcrunch.com/s/42741.
Ray Uffre, who was one of the people displaced last week, expressed both his frustration with the situation and a gratefulnes for the help he has received from the community.
“The last week has been hectic and we’ve been struggling with not knowing what’s going on or going to happen,” he said. “We had sort of established a sense of home and community at Springwood and now that has [all] disappeared and its been scary.
“We greatly appreciated everyone that has been helping us and we also want to continue to do anything we can to help anyone else in the situation with us.”
When asked about long-term goals and plans to get into more permanent housing he said the average income requirements have made it difficult.
“Even if we could afford rent in a house or apartment, we have not been given the chance because of all the requirements,” he said. “Springwood was $1,200 a month and we have been stuck, barely able to pay that, instead of getting into more affordable housing.”
Local businesswoman Sarah Gill has stepped in to assist those in need.
“Every single displaced person I’ve been connected with to help has been extremely grateful and motivated to use this opportunity to get in a permanent housing situation and keep employment,” Gill said. “If we had waited on local organizations to rally and tell us what to do, nothing would have been done yet. I’m so grateful to know the people on the ground doing this work on the streets — an underground network of texting and calling and getting things to the people who need them — directly to the people. Out of this tragic housing crisis I’ve seen some of our community’s best come out to use their cars, groceries, clothing, money, housing and time to alleviate these folks’ suffering for nothing in return.
According to Gill and others who have been helping, a new community and friendships are being formed through this crisis.
“The people who I’ve helped are rad,” Gill said. “I hope to stay friends with them. They’re loving, funny, ambitious and are ready to embark on a new journey in life.”
