DEL SUR, Calif. — Fighting to keep a roof over their heads, dozens of low-income tenants in North County facing massive rent hikes are banding together to fight back against their landlord.
In the neighborhood of Del Sur, filled with multi-million dollar homes, is Fairbanks Commons, an affordable housing complex.
But many tenants there say with recent rent increases being forced upon them, it is becoming anything but affordable.
"They don't care about us," said one tenant. "All they care about is money!"
78-year-old Marcella Landis continues to show up at bi-weekly rallies organized by San Diego Tenants United, protesting rent increases she says no one at the complex can afford.
"Every year it has gone up and up and up," Landis said.
This year, it came on July 1, which was supposed to be a celebration for her.
"When I got that notice, it was my very first official day of retirement. And I sat down and cried and wished I hadn't. I wish I had just kept on working."
Landis had been working at her local grocery store.
"I was doing just fine," Landis said. "I could even save some. But now it's over. The savings is gone."
Landis is now part of a larger tenant movement, to call on the developer to reign in these rent hikes, some of which are exceeding 20 percent.
"We just need help," said resident Karly Gadberry. "We need people to listen to us."
Gadberry is caretaker to her husband, who is disabled.
"He's been paying. He's been been overcharged the entire time he's been here," Gadberry said.
For Anna Dudareva, working two jobs to support her 12-year-old, her rent increase of $400 a month creates a choice she feels she shouldn't have to make.
"Now I have the choice to pay for my son's food, or to pay the increased rent."
For its part, the developer, Chelsea Investment Corporation, has previously CBS 8 that they understand that a rent hike may cause a burden for some tenants, encouraging residents to reach out to onsite managers for additional help, adding they've "been faced with operating budgets that are no longer sustainable in the current environment."
But for Landis, these rent hikes are not sustainable either.
"It was already at $1,352, and this was just unconscionable," Landis said.
While returning to work wasn't part of the plan, Landis remains open to whatever the future may hold.
"You know, every door is still left open."