EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Under a judge’s order, residents of the Gateway Hotel have until 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12 to vacate the building. Local non-government organizations were outside the premises helping the tenants on Wednesday with relocation assistance.
“We are going to be assisting around 60 individuals. We are going to provide them shelter, food, and we’re going to connect them to services that are available in the community,” said a spokesperson with the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, Araceli Lazcano.
The need for new homes comes after District Court Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza signed a 90-day temporary injunction on Sept. 9.
The County Attorney’s Office wants to shut down the hotel, alleging that it is a public nuisance and a hotbed of criminal activity and illegal drug use.
Former resident and employee of the Gateway Hotel, Joe Lassich, told KTSM the building had been going down hill for decades, saying he expected a shutdown to happen sooner or later due to the number of health code violations he saw.