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When General Motors Co. closed factories nationwide last year, 700 laid-off employees were told a third shift existed for them at the Allen County truck assembly plant.
But hourly worker Charlie Cook says that while retaining a job these days is good news, his story doesn’t have a happy ending yet. The father of four is stuck living alone weekdays at the Extended Stay America hotel while his family remains in Michigan.
An apartment isn’t practical, and rental houses are at a premium, he says.
“I have a house (near Pontiac, Mich.), and we’re just going to try to rent it out. But in the meantime, I can’t find a house here to rent,” said Cook, 36, who recently learned he’d have to make Fort Wayne his new home after working at a Michigan plant for seven years. He’s paying $849 a month in hotel bills during his transition; and that’s on top of his mortgage in Michigan.
Cook said GM is providing him and others with $30,000, which will assist in relocating. But the transition remains difficult.
“We really didn’t have a whole lot of time to prepare,” he said, “and it’s hard to just pick your family up and go.”
Coldwell Banker real estate agent – and fellow GM worker – Andrew Z. Menchaca called the transferred workers refugees.
“That’s the only way to put it, really,” he said. “Imagine being told to move to another part of the country, to sell your existing house – if you can in this market – and find your kids a school. I mean, that’s a lot to deal with. That’s why there’s so much frustration and anxiety out there right now.”
Menchaca said about 150 GM workers have made it to town so far. GM spokeswoman Kim Carpenter said the automaker doesn’t just throw employees into Fort Wayne.
“During the first week that they’re there they do go through an orientation that provides them with a long list of Web sites about the community, schools, real estate agents and things like that,” she said.
About two weeks ago, the Allen County Council debated offering incentives to entice transferred GM workers to buy homes, but the council did not make a decision. Menchaca said offering such incentives would be premature because most people aren’t likely to buy a home in an area they know nothing about.
“A lot of them want to try to get a feel for Fort Wayne before making any decisions,” he said. “What they need is help and not someone pressuring them to buy a house.”
Beth Wyatt, executive director of the Apartment Association of Fort Wayne, said she doesn’t believe there is a shortage of rental homes.
“We just need to get the information out there to them, so that they know what’s available,” she said. Wyatt did not provide figures.
The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce also has a spot on its Web site that directs GM workers to temporary housing. Some neighboring towns, such as Columbia City, have similar Internet sites.
Even so, Cook said the situation remains tough for larger families.
“I’m still looking for a home to rent,” he said, “and I have to find someone for my house back home because I just can’t rent it out to anybody.”
