Plainfield City Council member working to secure more aid for families of condemned building

News 12 New Jersey is learning more details about the mass eviction of residents of a Plainfield apartment building earlier this month.

Matt Trapani and Isabel Litterst

Aug 24, 2023, 12:21 AM

Updated 338 days ago

Share:

News 12 New Jersey is learning more details about the mass eviction of residents of a Plainfield apartment building earlier this month.
News 12 was the first to break this story two weeks ago. News 12 has now learned where some of the residents have been living since they were forced out of their homes on Aug. 8.
Maria Mendez is a former resident of 501 West Seventh St. She says she and her family have been sleeping in her friend’s living room since the day they were blindsided by a city notice condemning the building due to unsafe conditions.
Plainfield City Council Member Sean McKenna says Mendez is not alone.
“There are a lot of residents who have a friend or family member or something, that they've been able to kind of crash on floors and couches,” McKenna says.
But from one couch to the next, evicted families fear a day will come when there are no doors left to knock on. McKenna says this was just the latest in a string of evictions from condemned Plainfield apartments all under the same ownership.
“This horrible situation here, that got the spotlight. That the other two properties did not, has opened up a lot of issues that we need to solve as a community,” McKenna says.
City representatives say they are providing housing assistance, but McKenna says the resources are limited and he is working with a group of concerned community members to secure more aid for all of the Plainfield residents impacted.
"It has been frustrating. It has been exhausting, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel for these individuals,” he says.
McKenna says he should have an update about those efforts to bring greater housing assistance to those former tenants in the coming days.
News 12 has reached out to the city to find out about any new housing assistance programs, but has not yet received a response.
More information from the city can be found HERE.


More from News 12
2:10
Boar’s Head deli meat recalled for potential listeria contamination

Boar’s Head deli meat recalled for potential listeria contamination

2:16
Fire at Fair Lawn strip mall destroys multiple businesses, including popular Zadies Bakery

Fire at Fair Lawn strip mall destroys multiple businesses, including popular Zadies Bakery

2:42
Beautiful weekend ahead for New Jersey with sunny skies and warm temperatures

Beautiful weekend ahead for New Jersey with sunny skies and warm temperatures

1:43
Lead found on Keyport beach not ‘urgent risk’ to public health, no need to close beach

Lead found on Keyport beach not ‘urgent risk’ to public health, no need to close beach

0:29
Man who pleaded guilty to attacking Jewish men sentenced to 30 years on terror charges

Man who pleaded guilty to attacking Jewish men sentenced to 30 years on terror charges

1:01
‘It’s a beautiful sport.’ New pickleball courts open in Howell Township

‘It’s a beautiful sport.’ New pickleball courts open in Howell Township

0:55
EPA completes Phase 1 of superfund site cleanup at Unimatic Manufacturing site in Fairfield

EPA completes Phase 1 of superfund site cleanup at Unimatic Manufacturing site in Fairfield

0:20
West New York school named for Sen. Menendez to revert to original name

West New York school named for Sen. Menendez to revert to original name

0:30
Attorney general: NJ state trooper ‘inexcusably crossed the line,’ admits to punching handcuffed woman in the face in 2022

Attorney general: NJ state trooper ‘inexcusably crossed the line,’ admits to punching handcuffed woman in the face in 2022

0:15
East Brunswick police: Bicyclist killed in Route 18 crash

East Brunswick police: Bicyclist killed in Route 18 crash

0:30
No one injured in Kenilworth house fire

No one injured in Kenilworth house fire

1:04
Attorney general releases body camera footage of fatal Hamilton police-involved shooting

Attorney general releases body camera footage of fatal Hamilton police-involved shooting

0:15
Part of Manchester’s Harry Wright Lake closed due to high levels of fecal bacteria

Part of Manchester’s Harry Wright Lake closed due to high levels of fecal bacteria

0:23
2 dead in Maine plane crash after leaving New Jersey airport

2 dead in Maine plane crash after leaving New Jersey airport

0:18
$1 million lottery ticket won from $20 scratch-off at North Wildwood Wawa

$1 million lottery ticket won from $20 scratch-off at North Wildwood Wawa

1:59
Paws & Pals: Felicity now up for adoption at Associated Humane Societies

Paws & Pals: Felicity now up for adoption at Associated Humane Societies

1:17
Gov. Murphy discusses potential Menendez replacement on ‘Ask Gov. Murphy’

Gov. Murphy discusses potential Menendez replacement on ‘Ask Gov. Murphy’

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:33
New Jersey now has 21 towns where starter homes cost more than $1 million

New Jersey now has 21 towns where starter homes cost more than $1 million

0:48
Jersey Proud: Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis first performed together 78 years ago in Atlantic City

Jersey Proud: Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis first performed together 78 years ago in Atlantic City