ROYAL OAK TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Hundreds of residents of the Royal Inn Motel in Royal Oak Township are looking for new homes after the building was condemned Thursday.
Everyone living in the motel must be out before Sept. 6.
Read more: Stories about filthy living conditions emerge from condemned Royal Oak Township motel
“I’ve been up all night long. I’m in a state of shock,” resident Cynthia Dahlka said.
The building was deemed unfit for human habitation. The list of violations leading to its closure includes 17 fire code and 33 building code violations.
“It’s unbelievable what these people are living in,” Royal Oak Township supervisor Donna Squalls said.
Squalls said the motel has fleas, ticks, mice, cockroaches, rats and bedbugs.
Motel manager Chandresh Shah said the motel was never given the chance to fix violations, while Squalls said she believes the owners are taking advantage of people.
The property managers said they plan to sue.
Some residents believe the motel was targeted, and management should have time to fix the violations.
“Give them enough time to fix it because all of my brothers and sisters have nowhere to go,” said a man who lives at the motel.
Eight organizations were on-site Friday to help residents find new housing.
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