IMMEDIATE RELEASE/PRESS CONFERENCE: Families at 1568 Nome St. and Aurora Community Host Press Conference to Demand the City Prevent Mass Displacement Crisis

Media Contacts:
V, 701-484-2634, info@housekeysactionnetwork.com
Nate Kassa, East Colfax Community Collective, 720-665-8928, nate@eastcolfaxcc.org

Media Advisory:
Families at 1568 Nome St. and Aurora Community Host Press Conference to Demand the City Prevent Mass Displacement Crisis
Dozens of families from 1568 Nome St. are being joined by Aurora community members to demand Aurora City Manager Jason Batchelor delay the closure of their housing units at 1568 Nome St. to give them enough time to find other housing options.

AURORA, CO: On the morning of Wednesday, August 7th, on many of Aurora Public Schools (APS) childrens’ first day of school, the city of Aurora sent some 60 police officers to notify over 85 families living in the building that they have 6 days to vacate their units before the city will cut off their water. There are over 66 children enrolled in APS elementary schools, and others in Denver Public Schools, that live at the building. Nome St. Tenants agree with the city of Aurora – there is a history of longstanding problems like rodent infestations, sewage backups, no heat, and no electricity. The slumlord and property management are culpable for the deterioration of the building – not the innocent families paying thousands in rent (in some cases, over $2000). The residents agree with the City that ultimately, the responsibility to remedy the habitability of the building is on the owner, NOME PARTNERS LLC, and the property manager, Zev Baumgarten, and they have failed to bring the property to health and safety compliance standards thus far. The dozens of families living at the building are the people who are suffering from these uninhabitable conditions – throwing their families out on the streets is not a solution.

The city knew about the deplorable conditions at the building, according to their own records, since March 8th, 2022, but they chose to give tenants only 6 days to find an alternative housing option. There are individual city staff who have come out and shared that they want to connect residents to resources outside of just what the city can provide, but 6 days is not enough time. Community organizations are stepping in to support, but scrambling to connect residents with resources because they didn’t receive prior notice of the building’s condemnation. Most assistance programs require time to resettle someone into another home, making the need for temporary housing (hotels) and storage for belongings a must. The planning and execution of this building placarding is reckless and insufficient resources are being offered to ensure residents’ wellbeing. The residents will be hosting a press conference to speak directly to the press to challenge the harmful anti-migrant rhetoric spreading locally and nationally and voice their demands.

DEMANDS:

1. City Manager of Aurora Jason Batchelor – Delay the closure of 1568 Nome St. by 2 months to give tenants enough time to move into another home
2. City of Aurora – Coordinate directly with local county governments, community organizations, and community members to connect Nome St. residents with housing vouchers, security deposit and first month’s rental assistance, and housing resources.

WHEN: Thursday, August 8th, from 3:30pm-4:00pm

WHERE: 1568 Nome Street, Aurora, CO 80010