Apartment-fire victims unable to find housing

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two families who were forced to flee their burning Date Street apartment building Sept. 9 said they are having a difficult time finding new housing.

The fire at 2344 Date St. destroyed or heavily damaged five of the apartments in the two-story building. Fire investigators said an unattended cigarette in a first-floor unit was the likely cause of the blaze.

Two families who lived in the two second-floor apartments were aided by the American Red Cross, which put them up at the Pagoda Hotel. But since Sept. 13, the families have been on their own and unable to find a new place to stay.

Lucy Watkins lived in one of the two-bedroom units with two adults and four children. Nine people, including six children, lived in the other apartment, Watkins said.

The fire displaced a total of 25 residents.

Watkins said she believes they are having a difficult time because both families are so large. She said she has checked the classified ads daily with no luck and she said there is a waiting list for public housing.

"We've been honest about the kids," she said. "But as soon as we mention that we have kids, they say the place is too small or they don't take kids."

Watkins, who paid $700 a month for the apartment, said she's paying $111 a night for her Pagoda room and both families are running out of money. Yesterday, she pleaded for someone to step forward and offer them a place to rent.

"We're running out of hope and we're running out of money," Watkins said. "The (Pagoda) room is big, but we just want something to call home."

Watkins said anyone with an available apartment can call her at the Pagoda.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.