Efforts continue to help displaced seniors after being forced out of homes

There is a sliver of hope for some of the 82 senior citizens displaced from the Magnolia Senior Apartments after a major water pipe break on Christmas.

“People are moving into permanent places,” said Janette Kinard, an advocate with Champion House of Care. “People are finding places.”

Residents have been staying in hotels., and organizations like United Way, Crisis Assistance Ministry, and Be You Be Great have helped cover some of the residents’ needs.

PAST COVERAGE:

• Nonprofit helps displaced seniors whose apartments were flooded after pipes burst

• Senior residents displaced from apartments after major water leak on Christmas Day

Residents, including Charlene Gould, checked out of the hotels they were forced to call home.

“Here I am, a senior paying my rent,” Gould said. “I work full time. And then I have to come home, and I sit out in the car, and I think, ‘Man I’m living in a hotel.’”

Residents likely won’t be able to move back into Magnolia for six to nine months due to extensive damage.

“I’m moving to an apartment,” Gould said. “Everything is so expensive. Most of the one bedrooms were $1,400, $1,500, and I was paying $685 at Magnolia.”

The residents got another update from Magnolia’s owners who are about to begin reconstruction.

“Every resident has to go over and empty out their place,” Kinard said. “And as seniors, they don’t know how to empty their place, because they can’t lift couches and chairs. They have no idea where they’re going to store these items.”

VIDEO: City officials help displaced seniors whose apartments were flooded after pipes burst