Dozens of families are living without power or running water after the owner of an Osceola County motel has abandoned the property.
That owner shut down the Knights Inn motel on U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee this week, but several families and their children have stayed.
The lights are out in all the rooms, the floor is sinking in, and mold is growing on the walls however several families are still living here because they don’t have anywhere else to go.
This woman, who didn’t want to show her face on camera, told us that she lives here at the Knights Inn with her mother, her sister, and her four children.
“It’s very hot, it’s very dark and it’s very dangerous; I stay up all night watching them. Watching the door to know we are safe,” she said.
Despite these living conditions, the mother told News 13 her family doesn’t have any other options. In fact, most of the people who are still staying at the Knights Inn say their only option would be to move to another motel along U.S. 192.
Many families told us they couldn’t afford the expensive security deposit and the up-front requirements for rent for the first and second month.
Right now the county does not have any form of emergency shelters for families or individuals stuck in situations like this one. There are other service organizations in the area that can help, however individuals and families need to register and qualify for aide.
So, many families are left wondering "what’s next?"
Another woman living at the Knights Inn also told us that she is worried about what will happen next. “I don’t want to live on the streets,” she said.
We reached out to Osceola County officials who tell us some rental assistance is being made available to qualifying families.
To find out if you qualify, call the county Human Services department at 407-742-8400.