As of the end of November, some residents of Anna Capri Drive in Hamilton may no longer have a home.
The owner of their properties, DiCenzo Homes, has put them up for sale.
Three different complexes will be affected, including an estimated 400 tenants — most of whom are elderly and low-income residents.
According to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now ACORN (ACORN), the tenants were sent notices to move out of their homes by Nov. 30.
“They are all tenanted, and most of the people that are in here are low income,” Megan Cheshire, a spokesperson for ACORN, said. “They are elderly people, they’re young families in here, with young children.”
Ron Taillon, a resident, says he’s received two N12 notices from DiCenzo homes, informing him of a looming end to his tenancy.
“The first one stated when they wanted me to move out, which is November 30th,” Taillon said. “It wasn’t signed by nobody, so the second one I got was still to move out on November 30th, but nine days later.”
DiCenzo Homes, ACORN and the affected tenants met earlier this year, but little progress was made.
“There was a request for increased time and compensation with consideration for young families,” Brittany Thomson, another ACORN representative said, adding that they hoped DiCenzo Homes would at least wait until the end of the school year before listing the homes.
READ MORE: ACORN says sale of rental units on Hamilton Mountain ‘financialized tenant displacement’
According to ACORN, they sought compensation for capital tenants’ put into the homes, as well as a proposal for DiCenzo Homes to consider a not-for-profit acquisition.
ACORN says DiCenzo Homes refused their offers.
When DiCenzo Homes was reached for comment on Tuesday, they maintained that the acquisition of these homes was done legally.
They claim “a number of tenants have disassociated themselves from ACORN after becoming aware that our current actions in selling the units are completely lawful,” adding they are surprised ACORN is still involved.
Some of the residents of the townhomes say they will continue to look other places to live, while some are considering legal action.