VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The clock is ticking for those who used to live at the Waypoint at Lynnhavenapartment complex.
On Friday, 80 families were evicted from their homes when asbestos was found in several units during Hurricane Matthew clean up. Since then, the apartment complex has paid to put residents up in a hotel, but only until October 31, then they are on their own.
"It's getting harder everyday because we have a very short deadline," explained Johvanny Torres, one of the residents who had his lease terminated.
With no time to waste, Torres and a group of former tenants gathered outside Virginia City Hall on Monday looking for someone who could help. After a closed door meeting tenants were told some relief is on the way.
"They are going to set up an assessment center which we are going to get everyone to fill out an application today and they are going to be out at a set location to help people," said Torres.
At this time no confirmed time or place for the assessment center has been set but Torres says in the meantime he is working to get his neighbors to fill out their applications, going door to door in each hotel where his neighbors are staying.
While some progress has been made to get help, Torres says what he and his neighbors really need is legal advice and assistance since he does not feel the apartment complex is treating their residents fairly.
According to a spokesperson for Waypoint at Lynnhaven apartments they are following standard protocol for these situations. They say it is standard procedure for them not to allow residents back into their homes once asbestos is found. They also tell News 3 it is standard procedure for them to put their residents in a hotel for a set amount of time.
