Motel Owner is Homeless After Business Burned to the Ground - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Motel Owner is Homeless After Business Burned to the Ground

A motel owner in Steele says he's struggling to survive after his business and home burned to the ground one week ago.

Mohammad Akhtar and around ten members of his family are currently living in the Lone Steer Motel parking lot in a winnebago.

One week ago the Motel burned to the ground, along with the family's possessions and living quarters.

A Texas man has been arrested and charged with arson in connection to the fire.

Akhtar says he only had liability insurance and has no money to afford new housing or even school supplies for his seven children who range in age from six years old to 21.

"Everything's very hard right now, we have only hope right now that sleeping here and because nobody help give us a home, because I have large family, even an apartment so we can take a shower somewhere." says Mohammad Akhtar/Lone Steer Owner.

The family has received help from the Red Cross-- everything from clothing to temporary shelter.

Mohammad's oldest son Sharoze says he will be attending the University of Mary this fall but this ordeal has been a nightmare.

"It's the worst experience that you can imagine, I wish no one would have to go through this because it's painful when you look in your pockets and you don't have anything. Losing everything especially pictures of family members, everything we lost, just from all that, I don't know what to do." says Sharoze Akhtar/21-year-old.

A fire disaster fund has been set up to help rebuild the Lone Steer Motel.

The family gives this address as a place to mail donations if you would like to help:

Fire Disaster Fund

P.O. Box 56

Steele, ND 58482