Dallas Tenants Say A Parking Space Is A 'Rare Find'

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A Dallas woman says she's 6 months pregnant and sleeping in her car - all because she can't find a legal parking spot at her apartment complex - or anywhere near by.

Stacy Martin documents her desperate search for a parking spot night after night.

"We've been through every gate, we've been through every visitor parking lot, we've been through every reserve, and we've been through every tenant parking. They're all full," explains Martin.

"I've cried so much and been so emotional. I'm so numb."

Martin and her boyfriend moved into the 5636 Apartments on Spring Valley a week ago.

Parking permits issued to them allow them two spots, but finding an open spot has been more difficult than they ever imagined.

"There's another car waiting. Over here, there's another car waiting."

Raphael Ojong works two jobs gets home after one in the morning, and often has just six hours between shifts.

He and Martin say they spend those hours circling this lot.

"We're like fighting to get a spot at 2:30 in the morning," says Ojong. "My manager told me I don't look okay. I told him I didn't have enough rest."

"He works all day", Martin adds. "He doesn't even get to be here in the daytime and he spends his nights in the car. So we don't even get to live here."

The couple tried leaving one car at a relative's house, but still couldn't find space for the other.

They say they've ended up sleeping in their car most nights just to keep it from getting towed.

"We're finally getting a parking spot. Somebody's leaving," says Martin.

When they do finally park Martin says she's scared to leave again, because it'll mean another long, desperate search.

Another resident says she can't leave home after 7pm because she won't find parking again after that.

CBS 11 reached out to management and was told they'll get back to our request to speak with them next week.