Santa Rosa residents face eviction due to mold, rats

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Rats and dangerous mold are forcing nine families out of their homes at the Bennett Valley Townhomes. The emergency eviction is underway right now and the City of Santa Rosa says everyone has to be out of the toxic townhomes by Tuesday.

Most of the families have nowhere to go. Many are taking what belongings they can and throwing a lot of stuff away.

Tenant Francisco Sanchez and his family are packing up, saying goodbye to the place they've called home for years. A place they say also made them sick.

"This is so hard, we're so sad. Last January I got bronchitis, a month later I got pneumonia," Sanchez said.

City inspectors say it's no wonder people were getting sick since most every unit is plagued with toxic mold. Tenants showed ABC7 News black spores growing on their bathroom ceilings and even in their bedrooms where their kids sleep.

Last week, the city issued an eviction order, giving tenants until Jan. 20 to get out. All furniture must stay since it's likely infested too.

"My little baby, two days ago, they told me she has asthma. I think they said it's because of what's growing inside here," tenant Jesus Gonzalez said.

Inspectors say units are also overrun with rats. We asked Gonzalez if he had seen any rats and he replied, "Yes. We've seen rats."

Community activists held a meeting to help families find new housing, but it won't be easy.

"Property owners like this, and across the county, are knowing that people are stuck in this situation because there's a one-percent vacancy rate," Daven Cardenes from the North Bay Organizing Project said.

The city told building owners to fix the problems last year, but Sanchez says his complaints were ignored.

"They just don't care because they don't live here," Sanchez said.

Families have been given about $2,000 to relocate. Tenant rights attorneys say that's not enough and may sue for more.

ABC7 News reached out to building owners, but so far, no response.