BOISE – The Samaritan Village Apartments, an affordable housing complex for seniors, is currently undergoing a $4 million renovation. The project is primarily funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's subsidy program and private donations.
After six months of waiting, Samaritan Village resident Albert Hann finally moved into his newly renovated studio apartment on Saturday.
“New microwave, new stove and I know they put in a new dishwasher,” said Hann.
Like all of the residents at Samaritan Village, Hann is elderly and he lives on a fixed income.
“It was worth the wait because the room is phenomenal,” said Hann’s brother Casey Corbin. “He's got disabilities, he's got cancer, he's older. But when he walked into it the first time he was kind of strutting. He's like, yeah this is my place.”
Hann's studio apartment is one of 100 units at Samaritan Village that are undergoing top to bottom renovations.
“You definitely touch my heart when you talk about elders,” said Lauri Nowak, housing director at Samaritan Village. “They're benefiting from a higher quality environment they're getting to live in a really nice apartment at an affordable rate. Joy is mostly what I see.”
For Casey Corbin, who has looked after his brother since their mother died 30 years ago, this renovation is about much more than new floors and appliances.
“This place is taking the time to say no just because they're on fixed income and this is affordable housing we can still make it look good,” said Corbin. “That's the thing I really like about this apartment is it dignifies him.”
To learn more about Samaritan Village, click here.