TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- The city of Tupelo will take $2.3 million out of its rainy day fund to help revitalize the west Jackson Street area.
Part of the plan involves the purchase of an apartment complex that the city will demolish.
Felicia Crayton and her family have lived at the west Jackson Street apartment complex for two months.
She says the living conditions in the two-bedroom apartment are not ideal.
"Well, it has been rough, it really has. I mean they don't fix anything. The roaches are terrible. But, we all needed a place to stay," said Crayton.
But, Felicia says nothing is as bad as being told that you no longer have a place to live.
Crayton and other residents received letters dated February 19th from the city of Tupelo notifying them that the city now owns the property.
The letter also stated the families must move, according to Crayton.
"I felt bad. I felt that we were going to become homeless. It felt like we weren't going to find a place to go," she continued.
And to make matters worse, the letter stated that starting Friday, residents would be charged $200 a week to remain in the apartments.
They have until March 8 to move out, according to Crayton.
"Two-hundred dollars - I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it and try to maintain too. I get paid bi-weekly. That's $400 I would have to come out of my pocket. I notice on the letter there's nothing said about utilities. So, you don't know if the utilities would be included or not," said Crayton.
According to Crayton, many of the residents work low-paying jobs, but she says the city has offered help.
"I know one couple that they did help. The mayor put in a couple of calls and got them out of here. They were the first ones a lady and a guy and three children. But others haven't been fortunate to find places. A friend of mine helped me find a place," she said.
Felicia is packed and ready to go and hopes to be out by Sunday.
She says the city has offered to find nicer apartments such as Parkway Terrace, One D'ville place, and even the Tupelo Housing Authority.
Many residents can't afford the nicer apartments and the Housing Authority has a waiting list, according to Crayton.
"That's kind of hard. They want somebody to pay $200 a week and yet try to get out too," she said.
Tupelo Mayor Jack Reed Jr. says all of the residents who live in the apartment complex have places to live, and will be moved out by the end of the week.
The mayor did not say when demolition of the apartment complex would begin.
