SAN ANTONIO — Some of the people who live in the Executive Apartments on the northwest side say they've had enough.
Early on Friday, there was a fire at the complex located on De Chantle off Fredericksburg Road that they believe was started by homeless people in vacant units.
This incident follows a shooting in their alley on July 15 and SAWS threatening to cut off their water service this week because the complex hadn't paid the bill.
With all the misfortune, some say they will continue to push to see improvements. Melvin Rhodes said he pays his rent on time and doesn't understand why the management team doesn't return that respect by keeping neighbors safe.
"In that building right back there, there are squatters," Rhodes said, pointing to a boarded-up section of the complex. "They don't pay rent, but they're back there."
With broken windows, boarded-up units, and a swimming pool that features green water and plenty of mud, Rhodes said every day seems to offer new challenges at Executive.
"We don't know which way to go," he said. "They say it's going to be taken care (of). But we don't know."
Neighbors said homeless camps surround the area and they feel a constant threat. One tenant said the locking mechanism that provides access to their unit is almost always broken
"I have to watch my back all the time when I'm coming through this door because I don't know who is around," the tenant said.
Now, on Friday morning, neighbors woke up to sirens and smoke. Firefighters were able to get a blaze under control within a few minutes, but tenants found the incident scary.
The fire department said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but tenants claim it is the second blaze caused by people breaking into empty units.
"Mainly it's the homeless people that are coming around, the squatters," one resident said. "We need security."
Tax records indicate the complex is owned by a parent company in Southlake, Texas. KENS 5 placed two calls asking for information and has not heard back as of Friday evening.
But there are signs of improvement.
On Friday afternoon, two SAPD SAFFE officers were on site saying they want to work with residents to solve some of the nagging quality of life issues people have been facing.
SAFFE stands for Fear Free Environment, and these officers came to see what they can do to improve conditions here. They said anyone who wants help bolster safety in their own area can reach out to the officer assigned to their neighborhood by clicking here.
The Red Cross arrived as well on Friday, with some basic supplies for anyone directly affected by the fire, and a CPS Energy crew was working on power problems.