ALBION, N.Y. — A roof collapse on a mixed-use building on East Bank Street in the village of Albion left tenants scrambling to find new housing. The collapse happened Tuesday, but tenants say they were not surprised.
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News10NBC’s Erin Mahon spoke with several tenants who expressed their frustration and fear as they met with the Red Cross for assistance. The Red Cross provided some tenants with funds for temporary housing and food, but after that runs out, many of them find themselves homeless.
“You’ve had 12 years—since I’ve known about it. It’s probably worse than that before. It’s been there forever like that,” said tenant Jimmy Harper.
Harper described the collapse, stating, “The whole thing come down. I mean you can see the beams all outside, I mean it crashed hard. And then everybody’s rooms just started flooding.”
One tenant had a video that she says was taken Tuesday morning before the collapse happened. The video shows parts of the ceiling falling down.
Matthew Howell, another tenant, shared his experience of the collapse.
“We woke up to a horrendous—it sounded like bowling balls hit the ceiling. And I already know that the ceiling was already leaking really bad so I figured that’s what’s coming down so we tried to get out of there quick—everybody’s in the hallway screaming,” Howell said.
Howell and his family stayed on a relative’s couch last night, but worry about what’s to come.
Mahon: “In the last 24 hours what’s it looked like for you guys trying to pick up the pieces.
Howell: “We’re kind of at a standstill, I guess. Our stuff is still in the building. We can enter, we’re told, if we call first. We’re not sure about that but it’s, the owners pretty much just left us high and dry. He told us we’re on our own now and everything.”
Landlord Frank Corso said he plans to pro-rate rent and return security deposits once insurance assesses the damage. He claimed to have replaced the roof 15 years ago and maintained it since, though he did not provide proof citing it as an “insurance matter now.”
The town’s code enforcement office could not confirm any previous citations at the address without a Freedom of Information request.
Corso paid for tenants to stay at a nearby motel for the night, though thereafter directed them to seek housing through the county’s Department of Social Services. The Howells said they do not qualify due to income, and will have to find another way to secure immediate housing.
“We wouldn’t meet their qualifications, income-wise, they would tell us we exceed it,” said Holly Howell. Matthew Howell added, “But we pay our bills like everybody else so we don’t have money stashed away like just pick up and move our lives all over again.”
Some tenants expressed emotional distress, having known Corso for years and considering him like family. Corso affirmed he felt the same, but denied tenant allegations of long-standing roof leaks and damage, stating they are lying.
News10NBC has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the town of Albion and will provide updates as information becomes available.
Albion tenants face uncertainty and frustrations after roof collapse WHEC.com.
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