City gets restraining order to stop West Dallas rental evictions

The City of Dallas obtained a 14-day restraining order on Tuesday to prevent a landlord from evicting about 300 tenants in West Dallas.

The city is scrambling to deal with the fallout from a tough new ordinance that required certain maintenance levels for rentals in Dallas. HMK Ltd. responded by issuing notices to all of its tenants that they would need to vacate their rental homes by Oct. 31.

One of the people grateful for the restraining order is an 80-year-old woman who's lived in a West Dallas neighborhood her entire life.  For the last 14 years, Pearlie Mae Brown has lived in a dilapidated 560 square foot home that’s held together by duct tape in spots and carpets that keep her from falling through holes on a rickety porch.

“I had to go in debt to buy air conditioner, I still owe on them,” Brown said.

Brown is on a month-to-month lease because she simply can't afford to live anywhere else.

“I get my check on the 3rd, I go to Jerry's and cash it and I go straight up there and pay my rent. I have never been late, never,” Brown said.

Brown said she’s been distraught since she found out HMK wanted her and other tenants out.

“I haven't been eating,” Brown said. “I stayed in the bed all day yesterday “

Brown's daughter says HMK should help at the very least.

“I feel like he should have relocated them and give them some relocating money to move since it was at the last minute,” said Pearline Brown Harper.

FOX4 went to HMK's offices, hoping to talk to the father-son owners, but they did not respond to requests.