Homeless Dispute Arises At Temporary Shelter
Members of the staff at a Colorado Springs motel which serves as a temporary homeless shelter have drawn criticism from at least one former resident.
Karyl King, 22, said the staff of the Aztec Motel near Platte Avenue and Union Boulevard evicted her without warning on the night of April 10, after the motel’s security guard spoke rudely to her and the director sided with him.
“He was disrespectful of me,” said King. “Calling me some fat … he’s rude to everybody. The director said I’d be kicked out soon. She told me to get my kids, my stuff and get the heck out.”
King, who said she moved to the Aztec last fall, woke up her three-year-old son and year-old daughter. King said she called her mother for a ride, and is staying with her until she moves into another home next month.”
“I’m furious, I really am,” said King. “So many people there have problems, but they don’t say anything or they’ll be kicked out.”
Another Aztec resident, Roxanne Rivera, complained about the staff.
“The director constantly putting me down, degrading me, calling me a bad mom and made me cry for 3 days,” Rivera said. “The management there is so mean that it’s impossible for anyone to lift themselves up.”
The Aztec staff declined to comment on Thursday. However, the agency overseeing the motel said the staff told him that King wasn’t evicted, and that she left on her own.
Bob Holmes of Homeward Pikes Peak said such situations are fairly common at the motel where strict rules are in place to maintain order. He said of the 1,700 residents in 26 months at the shelter, 500 have been asked to leave for a variety of violations.
“(King) was told she needed to calm down,” said Holmes. “I went to her mother’s house and spoke with her to try and resolve the situation. I did the best I could. Nothing is perfect.”
King is dissatisfied with Holmes’ response.
“The text message I got from him, was that the (security guard) was warned, and that (Holmes) had several talks with (the director). I don’t feel this situation was handled.”
King said she’ll continue to look for a job and explain to her son why the family left the Aztec.
“He wants to go back because he thinks that’s still his house,” she said.
