Confusion reigns at The Vault as residents remain after deadline

DeWayne Grice Apr 14, 2025 6:00 PM
Moving vans at The Vault apartments in Statesboro, GA on Friday, April 11th.▲

Uncertainty lingers for dozens of residents at The Vault apartment complex after a management-imposed deadline to vacate passed last Friday, with many still occupying their units and confused about their rights.

As of Sunday evening, April 13th, over 50 residents remained in their apartments, two days after the April 11th deadline set by The Vault management. The initial notice to vacate, dated April 7th, cited unsafe structural issues identified following a request from the City of Statesboro for the complex to make repairs.

However, the notice inaccurately claimed that the City had ordered the complex to be vacated by Friday, April 11th. City officials have explicitly denied this claim. Speaking to Grice Connect, officials clarified they had not ordered residents to leave, nor would city personnel be enforcing the vacating of the complex. They confirmed their only action was requesting the complex address the structural safety concerns.

The conflicting information has left many residents frustrated and confused. Several reached out to Grice Connect over the weekend, expressing distress over the sudden demand to leave without a clear explanation or assistance offered by The Vault's management. While a number of residents did manage to move out by the Friday deadline, many others remain in place, unsure of their next steps.

For those who have not vacated, the process is not as simple as management's notice suggested. Bulloch County Chief Magistrate Judge Karen Jones outlined the formal legal eviction process required in Georgia. Following the initial notice (which residents received around April 7th), The Vault management must file for a formal eviction. Tenants would then be officially served with papers and given an additional seven days to either vacate the premises or request a court hearing to contest the eviction. Judge Jones emphasized she cannot offer legal advice but directed residents unable to afford an attorney to contact the Georgia Legal Services Program for potential free assistance at 833-457-7529.

Adding to the residents' challenges, The Vault staff has reportedly informed tenants that they instructed the U.S. Post Office to cease mail delivery to the complex. Affected residents are advised to visit the Statesboro Post Office at 1 South College Street to set up mail forwarding to a new address.  They have also removed their website and Facebook page.

In response to the situation, Grice Connect has collaborated with City officials, local agencies, and non-profit organizations to create a resource guide aimed at assisting displaced residents as they navigate relocation. The guide seeks to consolidate information and support options available within the community.

The situation at The Vault remains ongoing as residents grapple with the eviction process, the search for new housing, and the disruption caused by the complex's actions.

Grice Connect is continuing to follow this story and will provide updates as they develop.

Here are some new resources added to the Resource Guide today.

Veterans Assistance

Veterans rehousing assistance:  ON Tuesday, April 15th starting 10:30 am until 2:00 pm  American Legion Post 90 is hosting the Augusta VAMC Homelessness Coordinator and HUD VASH Coordinator, Changing Homelessness out of Savannah and CSRA-EOA Inc out of Augusta who are our areas Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program (VA SSVF) program coordinators at American Legion Post 90, 100 Rucker Lane to assist Veterans from The Vault apartments and other low income veterans needing rental assistance.

We also have our veteran peer support groups twice weekly for any veteran who wishes to attend. The following links are our events calendar and Vet for Vet peer support group link to learn more about it.

https://www.statesboropost90legion.org/vet-to-vet

https://www.statesboropost90legion.org/site/eventscalendar

Subsidized Apartment Complexes

These serve low-income families or accept Section 8 vouchers:

Georgia Department of Community Affairs

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