Students and community members are stuck hunting for available homes as a housing shortage hits in Kent.

The closing of housing complexes like Silver Oaks Place and Sunrise Town Home Apartments has left many without a place to live this fall.

“It’s like tearing a family apart,” said Sue Jones, a resident of Silver Oaks Place. “For some people, this is the only family they have. There are people that can’t find a home.”

Residents of the senior citizen housing community learned they would be evicted by Oct. 1 after a Birmingham, Ala. company, Capstone Development Corporation, purchased the property. Silver Oaks explained in an eviction letter to residents the complex is to be renovated to suit student needs.

Jones said she believes there is already enough student housing in the city, and separating the residents is wrong.

The residents are planning a lawsuit for the right to stay in their homes after the new complex is built. But, if that occurs, they will have to pay a significantly higher rate for rent each month.

Bob Parrish, an 8-year Silver Oaks resident, helped create a petition with other residents.

Contact Summer Kent Stater Drew Parker at [email protected].