Utah family of 13 unable to find a place to rent
TREMONTON, Utah (KUTV) — A family of 13 in northern Utah has been unable to find a new place to live after learning their landlord is selling – and they’re not the only ones in that situation.
It’s a sobering side of the housing market, yet one that’s a reality for more and more people.
“A lot of nights end in tears and praying that something will come up the next day,” said Brittny Shelton, mother of 11 children.
Told to move within 30 days
Brittny and her husband, Danny, have rented a house in Tremonton for the past six years. In June, they got a notice from their landlord, telling them that he’s selling the property. They were given 30 days to be out.
Since then, they’ve been looking for a new place and submitting numerous applications.
Nothing has worked out. They’ve been unable to find a place that can accommodate their large family.
“There’s none,” Brittny said in an interview with 2News on the front steps of their home. “Mostly we’re told we have too many children or there’s a waiting list and we can’t get in.”
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A family of 13 in northern Utah has been unable to find a new place to live after learning their landlord is selling – and they’re not the only ones in that situation.
The situation has become dire.
“As of Monday, we’re homeless,” she said.
Their options are limited. Danny is a firefighter in Tremonton. If he moves away from the area, he loses his job, but finding something to rent in the area just hasn’t happened.
They’re not the only ones in this situation. Nicole Pate lives in Brigham City. Her landlord also decided to sell. Pate has searched for a new rental, but has also come up short.
“What there is, it’s at least double or triple what I’ve already been paying,” she said.
Tremendous need across the region
The director of human services at the Bear River Association of Governments, Lucas Martin, said the housing crisis is, “a tremendous challenge in rural areas. There’s fewer rental units to begin with.”
His organization helps with housing vouchers and rental assistance in Box Elder, Cache, and Rich counties.
“Over the course of a normal year, we have about 300 requests for emergency rent assistance,” Martin said. “This last month alone, we had 109. So, we’re on pace to be four times at the end of the year what we would normally have.”
He said case managers are overwhelmed, and the number of families who’ve been approved for assistance – but still can’t find a place to live – is growing.
Uncertain futures
Pate said she fears she’ll have to leave the state.
“Utah’s always been our home,” Pate said, tearfully. “I think it’s harder now because we know we can’t stay, because it’s unreachable to stay.”
As for the Sheltons, if they can’t find a place by Monday, they plan to pitch a tent on a campground. They said it’s not about money and that they can afford to rent a place – if only they could find one.
“We both work full time,” Brittny said. For the near future, "just live in a tent, is the plan.”
For people in similar situations, Martin said, try to work with your landlord to stay put, apply for assistance, make sure you’re employed so you qualify to rent somewhere, and be as proactive as possible in looking for a new place.
this is so sad, 
dammit here I go……
