SAN ANTONIO – A local non-profit is being evicted from their office space. Not because they didn’t pay their rent, they claim they are being evicted for their mission.
Tia Gibson says Monster Mom’s Inc. has rented space from Morris Realty for the past five years, and now they may have to find a new home.
“They’re not comfortable with me being here giving out food because he feels like I should be teaching them to fish instead of giving out food,” Gibson said.
Monster Moms feeds over 500 domestic violence survivors every two weeks. Many of them are homeless. She says their property manager recently approached them with a surprising message.
“He expressed to us that it’s not equipped with his aesthetic for the design he wants it to look like,” Gibson said. “He doesn’t want deliveries. He doesn’t want the food bank truck here. He doesn’t want it here at all.”
The property manager declined to interview but said he is prepared to take this to court if it goes that far. Gibson fears if she moves the people who need services won’t be able to get them.
Gibson says the property manager reached out to the food pantry that contracts Monster Moms asking them to end the partnership.
“He actually told them I remember you from playing basketball with my son,” Gibson said. “I just wanted to see if you could cancel this. I don’t want it here.”
Gibson says the most recent development is an eviction notice she was given to vacate the property although she signed a 12-month-lease.
Attorney Bradley Bellows says Texas law prevents interference of contracts, so there may be more the organization can do. But he says the eviction itself wouldn’t be illegal.
While the eviction may be illegal, the organization believes it’s not right. Monster Moms Inc. must vacate the property by Friday Oct. 24.
They say they currently do not have the funds to move because they were only given a 30-day notice.