Volunteers Helping Families Move Out Of Vista Shadow Mountain Apartment Complex

We are hearing from volunteers who helped hundreds of tenants move out of the Vista Shadow Mountain apartment complex.

All residents are now out of the complex, which firefighters declared unlivable.

People living there only had days to move out and find a new place to call home.

Fortunately for them, many people volunteered to help, up to the last hour.

The Vista Shadow Mountain apartment complex near 61st and Memorial is quiet Friday night.

The Tulsa fire marshal's office said horrible living conditions forced them to declare the complex unfit for tenants, and everyone had to move.

"These are hundreds of Tulsans we’ve had to rapidly rehouse,” said City Council Member Lori Decter Wright.

After an initial Wednesday deadline, residents were given an extension to 5 p.m. Friday to move out.

City councilor Lori Decter Wright said changes are needed at a state level to get more oversight, so this never happens again.

In the meantime, she’s asking landlords to consider renting to these tenants.

"The majority of these families are paying $700-$1400 a month on time, they’re great tenants," she said.

"People are hurting right now," said Carla Meyer with Tulsa United Way.

"There’s hurt, anger, all these emotions are coming out," said Joey Reyes.

Volunteers like Carla Meyer with United Way and Joey Reyes, the co-founder of nonprofit James Mission, have been working tirelessly to help.

Reyes said he popped in to see if help was needed and ended up spending every day since late last week moving people out, sometimes working 14-hour days.

"It boils down to loving people," Reyes said.

Reyes said it’s been incredibly emotional and it’s only the beginning for tenants unsure of where they’ll permanently live.

"In a few hours is when I can process what has gone on this past week," Reyes said.

A lawsuit was filed Friday against the apartment complex for breach of contract. We called the attorney listed for comment but haven't heard back.

Anyone in similar living conditions can contact the Tulsa fire marshal at 918-596-9422.