SAN DIEGO — Dozens of tenants in an affordable housing community in Del Sur are fighting back, after their corporate landlord recently handed down a massive rent increase.
Many of them say they're worried they could end up on the streets.
Many of the tenants at Fairbanks Commons are senior citizens living on fixed incomes. In the past six months, many of them say that they've received rent increases amounting to about three to four hundred dollars a month, translating to a more than 20 percent rent hike: a rent hike they say they simply can not afford.
"Every year we have had a rent increase, but nothing as phenomenal as this," said 82-year-old Roland Cordero, a resident of Fairbanks Commons.
"I probably will have to move, der the circumstances," he told CBS 8.
"We really are stuck," added another tenant, who said she is turning 78 in a few months. "I will probably have to have to go find a job."
Tenant Aaron Gadberry, who's on disability, lives in the complex with his 81-year-old mother.
"We can't make ends meet -hardly," he said, "and it's just been really hard the more and more they hike the rent, and we really don't know what to do.".
Friday's rally, organized by the San Diego Tenants Union, brought together dozens of tenants, some who say they are refusing to pay the increase.
"Some of the people here are terrified that they are going to end up homeless," said Rafael Bautisa of the San Diego Tenants Union. "That is the reality that many people face. Many people in the working class are paycheck to paycheck, they can't afford a thousand dollar emergency, and this is essentially a threat to their lives."
"It seems like we are paying more and more for something that's giving us less and less," said tenant Alberto Felix, who says it is difficult to make ends meet even with his incomes as a teacher.
"We are already struggling to make ends meet," added Kaitlyn Ingram, who also works as a teacher. ."So often times it will be, can we pay the rent or can we eat this month?"
"It is heartbreaking to see all of these people who worked so hard to get to where they wanted to be only to be completely taken over by some greedy company that wants to raise rent," added Felix. "I i just think that is despicable. No one should have to live like that."
For its part, the developer, Chelsea Investment Corporation, said they understand that a rent hike may cause a burden for some tenants, and encouraged residents facing hardships to reach out to onsite managers for additional help.
"COVID impacts were mitigated for several years during the pandemic by waiving annual rent increases. Unfortunately, with today's economic challenges impacting all sectors, we have been faced with operating budgets that are no longer sustainable in the current environment," the company added in a statement.
Here is the full statement from Chelsea Investment Corporation:
Chelsea Investment Corporation's core values center on developing affordable housing communities for San Diego's hardworking, low-income individuals, families, seniors, veterans, and those with challenging developmental or physical disabilities. We understand that rent increases of any amount may cause a burden to some individuals and families. Chelsea has put a plan in place to provide every possible community resource for additional supportive services to help alleviate the living expense challenges our residents may face. Onsite property managers will meet with individual residents to assist with housing reassignments where they may qualify for a lower rental rate.
Rent increases are not contemplated without a thorough analysis of operations, infrastructure, and maintenance needs, and remain in compliance with Housing Agency-permitted affordable housing rents for the region. COVID impacts were mitigated for several years during the pandemic by waiving annual rent increases. Unfortunately, with today's economic challenges impacting all sectors, we have been faced with operating budgets that are no longer sustainable in the current environment.
We encourage any of our residents to reach out to their community managers who stand ready to assist with any hardships that may arise.
WATCH RELATED: More rentals are being listed across the US, new report says