Nearly 18 families in Johnstown are forced to find a new home after they're told to be out by December 1st.

The landlord of the properties said a new ordinance put in place by the city is to blame.

6News talked to several families Friday who live on Suppes Avenue in Johnstown.

Many were very upset and said they weren't getting direct answers, but are forced to find a new home.

A row of houses sit along Suppes Avenue in Johnstown. Four that were split into several apartments are now up for sale.

Tenants like Glenn Kimmel were given two weeks to move out.

"The text said I had 15 days to move out. I was blown away by it," Kimmel said.

Texts, letters and an official eviction notice was signed and dated November 15, 2012.

Nearly 18 families are left scrambling to find a home in two weeks time.

"I'm sick in my stomach. I have a knot. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. It's just me and my 4 kids; two teenage girls and my two young boys," Kimmel said.

The letter said in 15 days all heat and electric will be shut off, along with water.

It cited new code upgrades as a reason that the landlord can't keep them.

6News talked to the landlord off camera.

He told 6News the inspection fees that were put in place by the city is the reason he intends to sell.

He said the biggest cost would be installing fire escapes with the cheapest estimates coming in at $15,000 per house and up to $6,000 in inspection fees.

An apology is enclosed in the letters, but for the families left scrambling to start over it's not enough.

"I mean, what am I supposed to do, take my kids to the shelter?" Kimmel asked.

Cambria County Association for the Blind neighbors the property.

An expansion is already visibly in place with construction underway and is looking to add more.

6News spoke with an employee of the association who said it's not a done deal, but it is looking at potentially buying the four homes up for sale.

For Kimmel, who's a single dad, he's left wondering what's next.

It could be a Christmas he and his kids may never forget.

"I was on my way up to Walmart to go shopping, and I got that text and turned around and [come] back. I couldn't afford to do [no] Christmas shopping today (Thursday), not knowing what am I going to do?" Kimmel said.

Many of the families 6News talked to said they've been looking in the area for other rentals, and may turn to the Salvation Army to try and find anything before December 1st.