Trinity Episcopal Church launches fundraiser for displaced Latitude Five25 residents

Nathaniel Shuda, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
The Latitude Five25 apartment complex on Columbus' Near East Side was evacuated on Christmas Day when some pipes burst due to the freezing temperatures causing electrical damage. Officials later determined the complex was unsafe and gave residents until noon Friday to move to other accommodations.
The Latitude Five25 apartment complex on Columbus' Near East Side was evacuated on Christmas Day when some pipes burst due to the freezing temperatures causing electrical damage. Officials later determined the complex was unsafe and gave residents until noon Friday to move to other accommodations.

Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square is raising money for residents of Latitude Five25, who are being displaced after pipes at the Near East Side apartments burst on Christmas Day, the Columbus church announced Friday.

Families in need will get 100% of the donations, which the Community Shelter Board and other partnering organizations will distribute, according to the announcement. The church, along with the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, also pledged to match all funds raised up to $7,500.

"This is a moment for the community to come together to support our neighbors," said the Rev. Jed Dearing, associate rector at Trinity Episcopal and chaplain at the American Red Cross emergency relief shelter.

On Thursday, officials said they determined the two towers of Latitude Five25, 525 Sawyer Blvd. — formerly known as Sawyer Towers — were unsafe. Dozens of residents registered to stay at the Red Cross disaster shelter at Dodge Community Center; others stayed with family and friends.

Residents of the rest of the buildings' 152 occupied apartments began moving Thursday into undisclosed motels, some with only whatever they could carry and no idea if or when they might be able to return. They had to leave by noon Friday, when officials were set to lock the doors to the buildings.

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, during an emergency meeting Wednesday, unanimously approved spending $750,000 to help the Community Shelter Board find temporary housing for Latitude Five25 residents. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther also was working with the City Council to contribute another $750,000 toward the cause, according to a joint statement Thursday from the city and county commissioners.

To donate to the Latitude Five25 Emergency Response Fund, visit the fundraising page on the church's website, www.trinitycolumbus.org/giving/latitude-five25-fund.

nshuda@dispatch.com

@NathanielShuda

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trinity Episcopal launches fundraiser for Latitude Five25 residents