Woman forced to find new home after Piqua motel condemned, questions claims of ‘unsafe’ conditions

PIQUA — A woman had to suddenly move after the City of Piqua condemned the Red Roof Inn she called home.

The city said the motel was “unsafe” and “unsanitary” forcing its residents, like Angel Barker, to leave.

Residents were given three days to find a new place to live and that’s how Barker ended up at the Budget Inn in Troy.

Barker called the Red Roof Inn her home for nine months, renting out a one-bedroom unit for $250 weekly.

“We had ceramic tile floors. We had like a little kitchen area and everything was pretty decent,” she said.

She said her room was far from the “unsafe” and “unsanitary” conditions the city described.

>> Piqua motel condemned for ‘unsafe,’ ‘unsanitary’ living conditions after investigation

“That’s not the case... if there was any kind of unsanitary things it would have to be due to the person’s upkeep,” Barker said.

She now must pay $5 more for a unit at The Budget Inn that she said is half the size.

“There’s no room for my grandkids to come here and that’s the biggest thing,” she said.

It was the only place she could get and said the resources the city provided were not useful to her.

Barker said she called one of the suggestions, Salvation Army, and was told they have no room. She was then referred to a shelter that also had no room.

She was able to bring along her cat “Engine” but said this is not a home.

>> PHOTOS: Piqua motel condemned for ‘unsafe,’ ‘unsanitary’ living conditions after investigation

“When things are just taken away from you because it’s not your fault and we’re the ones that are getting the worst end of the deal,” Barker said.

She said she plans on finding somewhere else to live.

News Center 7 reached out to the City of Piqua with follow-up questions regarding this ongoing investigation and is waiting to hear back.

We also reached out to Red Roof Inn for an owner of the franchise agreement and were told it was not available.

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