PORTLAND, Oregon — A group of Portland seniors is being forced to move again, more than a year after an outbreak of a severe form of pneumonia forced them to leave their North Portland apartment complex.
Those living at Rosemont Court, a low-income senior apartment complex, were promised they'd get to go back after nearly 100 seniors were forced to leave in 2021 when their water became not safe to drink due to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, contracted through bacteria in water.
Multnomah County health officials had concerns that the water was causing Legionnaires’ disease.
Since then, former tenants had been living at other apartments, like The Perch PDX, for more than a year. Organizations like Urban League and Northwest Housing Alternatives have helped offset the price in rent cost. At Rosemont Court, rents ranged around $600. The apartments they're currently housed in are close to triple that rent price.
The funding that's helping them is running low, and it's expected to run out next spring. Tenants were expected to be able to return to Rosemont Court by then. It’s unclear where they will go next.
"Rosemont dropped the ball," Marilyn Hasan, a former Rosemont Court tenant said.
Recently, Hasan and other former Rosemont Court tenants received a letter saying they would not be able to return to Rosemont because there isn't enough money to replace the water system.
"I mean this has been very upsetting," Hasan said.
Hasan’s lease is up in six months. She and other tenants said many senior living apartments have a three-year wait list.
In a statement, Northwest Housing Alternatives said they’re still looking for funding to make Rosemont operational. They said they also hope residents continue to work with them to find new housing.
Some tenants don't know how much the two organizations can help.
"They say, 'well we'll do something,'” Hasan said. “'We don't know, they're trying to find money.' Do you know how unnerving that feels? You got to find some money, I've got six months to start looking for a place."
Now Hasan is worried she could soon become homeless.
"I've been over here for one year, and now I'm out in the streets," Hasan said.