There’s No Place Like Home

0

Residents of Fayette Landing in Washington C.H. moved back into their apartment units Thursday on U.S. Route 22 West. Residents moved out of the building March 2 for commencement of a renovation project.

The single room apartments are in the former Fayette Inn and are managed through the Fayette County Community Action Commission and WODA as a solution to long term homelessness.

The Fayette Landing was known previously as the Fayette Inn. The name was changed recently to Fayette Landing as part of a jointly-managed project between CAC Fayette County and WODA. This project includes the building of a new facility on the corner of Rawlings and Delaware streets, also to be called Fayette Landing. Both of these facilities are single-room occupancy for permanent housing to single adults who face chronic homelessness.

The building renovation, completed earlier this month, included new paint, windows, appliances, doors, and beds. Each apartment is the size of a single occupancy motel room. A manager’s office space was created on the property through this renovation project.

Bambi Baughn, executive director of CAC, said she is pleased with the work the WODA group has done in the renovation project.

“They have done a great job and I’m happy with it,” said Baughn.

There are 17 units in the building. The assistance-based housing is permanent, meaning that residents may stay for as long as they’d like. Baughn said some residents will stay for a short time before moving on, while others have lived there longer, it just depends on each person’s situation.

Leighann Lawson, a resident of Fayette Landing, said she had become homeless as a result of an illness that caused her to lose her job.

“I came here from the shelter. I was there for two weeks and then I came here. I’ve lived here, in August it will be two years,” said Lawson.”I’m excited just to be home. I think it’s fantastic. Everything is new. It’s beautiful.”

“When I moved out here I was homeless. I have been homeless since 2007. Things messed up. Everything. I finally got in here and it’s been home,” said Doug Elkins.

Residents returned home Thursday to the Fayette Landing. Back row (left to right): Sylvio Angeletti, Will Mahorney, Dan Ault. Front row: Doug Elkins and Leighann Lawson.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/06/web1_20160630_155026.jpgResidents returned home Thursday to the Fayette Landing. Back row (left to right): Sylvio Angeletti, Will Mahorney, Dan Ault. Front row: Doug Elkins and Leighann Lawson.

A renovated single unit apartment in the Fayette Landing.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/06/web1_20160630_160430.jpgA renovated single unit apartment in the Fayette Landing.

By Ashley Bunton

[email protected]

Reach Ashley at the Record-Herald (740) 313-0356 or on Twitter @ashbunton

No posts to display