AMHERST — Individuals and families who were supposed to move into six affordable homes at Presidential Apartments Sept. 1 should be in their new dwellings by the end of the week.

Jennifer Goldman, who believes she will be getting one of the apartments after being evicted from her previous Amherst home in November, says that she will feel a sense of relief if she’s able to move in.

“Fingers crossed,” said Goldman, speaking Dec. 15 at the Amherst Community Connections agency in downtown Amherst. “I’m hoping for a happy ending.”

A compliance agreement was struck between Presidential Apartments and the town last month that will allow low- and moderate-income families and individuals to get their new apartments. Signed by Allen Cohn of Presidential Development Co. of West Hartford and Building Commissioner Rob Morra, the deal came after Morra began issuing fines when apartments were not available Sept. 1 for those who had been selected through a lottery administered by the Amherst Housing Authority.

The agreement, which enforces a special permit requirement that Presidential set aside six units as affordable, remains in effect.

“Presidential expects to have all six units available for affordable tenants by Dec. 21,” said Thomas Reidy, an attorney with Bacon and Wilson of Amherst who represents Presidential.

Recent weeks have not been easy for Goldman, who since losing her previous home Nov. 8 has had to find temporary lodging, often at the Craig’s Place homeless shelter, though it can be hit or miss whether she will get a cot.

“It’s been dicey over at Craig’s,” Goldman said.

Goldman blames her eviction on not being notified early enough by the Amherst Housing Authority that she would be able to go through the process of having Kamins Property, which manages Presidential Apartments, determine if she qualifies for the housing. On Oct. 5, she received a letter from Housing Authority Executive Director Debbie Turgeon stating she was one of three individuals invited to go through this process.

Even though she has a section 8 voucher and is dealing with osteoarthritis and the need for regular medication, Goldman said she was initially informed her application to the lottery was incomplete. This forced her to go to housing court to fight for her previous home and request an extension, which allowed her to remain past the eviction notice given Aug. 28.

Most of her belongings were transported to a Holyoke storage facility by her previous landlord upon her eviction.

Hwei-Ling Greeney, founder and executive director of Amherst Community Connections, said what has happened to Goldman illustrates some of the challenges for the most vulnerable population in town, where losing housing can mean months of facing cold weather months and having few options for shelter.

“It’s hard to see her suffering,” Greeney said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.