ROSWELL, Ga. — A nonprofit has worked with city officials to find places to stay for residents forced out of a troubled motel, with everyone required by out by 5 p.m. Saturday.
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As Roswell decided to shut down The Economy Hotel on Old Dogwood Road, it donated $25,000 to The Drake House, a nonprofit that helps families facing homelessness.
“They have been a fantastic partner in ensuring we’re meeting the needs of the people here,” Roswell Fire Chief Pabel Troche told Channel 2’s Bryan Mims.
The priority has been housing for families with school-age children. City officials said 15 families with children lived in the motel; all but two had moved out by Friday afternoon.
“We want to make sure their last few weeks of school are uninterrupted, they stay in the district, they stay with their same teachers, so they finish out the year strong,” said Roswell Police Chief James Conroy.
The city announced Tuesday that it’s shutting down the motel, citing a host of safety and sanitary violations, including fire alarms not working, exposed wiring, ceiling material falling and lack of fire extinguishers. Officials said it’s also been plagued with crime.
Last week, Channel 2’s Michael Seiden was the first to report about the arrest of six people charged with running a child sex trafficking ring at this motel. Two sisters were rescued.
Bamba Diop, 22, was among the motel residents moving out Friday. He had only been in the motel for three days before the city announced the closure, but he said that was long enough to know the building is in bad shape.
“It’s a horrible experience,” he said. “It’s not a good hotel. Places like this should not be allowed to function.”
Conroy said some residents had been living in the motel for years. “Just saying hey, we need you to up and move to another hotel is not possible,” he said. “We have to help them move their stuff; they don’t have vehicles.”
He said the challenge is placing residents in hotels they can afford, though the city and The Drake House have provided financial assistance.
“I can tell you we’re meeting each individual family with their particular needs, and there are a lot of different needs,” said Roswell Fire Chief Pabel Troche. “Some families want to stay local, and some families have chosen to go closer to other families.”
Roswell police posted on Facebook a way for the public to assist families, urging financial donations to The Drake House.
RELATED:
- City leaders shutting down Roswell motel where teens rescued from alleged sex trafficking
- 6 charged in connection to teen trafficking ring at Roswell motel
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