by Jess Brandes, CASA Projects Coordinator
“Sometimes when I make it, it’s great,” says Terry*, as he pulls a peach and blackberry cobbler out of his fridge and puts some in a plastic container for me to take home. “But other times… it’s absolutely scrumptious!”
I was visiting Terry at his home to get information for our Orange County weatherization project. Terry, who lives with mental illness, rents one of the 20 units of housing in Orange County that CASA purchased from the Chrysalis Foundation last year. His modest one-bedroom apartment in Carrboro will be fully renovated this summer; seven of the 19 others have already been completed.
Downtown Carrboro
Taking me outside, Terry points to a stump and then to some recently cut tree limbs. Referring to arborists hired by CASA, he says: “They cut down that tree that had been dead for a long time, and they cut those big branches that were hanging over the roof. It only took half a day and they made it look beautiful.”
When CASA took over ownership of these properties, the tenants were unknown to us, and we were unknown to them. While coordinating our weatherization project in Orange County, I’ve been able to visit many of these tenants and learn a little about their lives.
Lorenzo and his teenage son live in Chapel Hill. Lorenzo is deaf, and we communicated during my visit by writing notes back and forth to each other. He pointed out which electric meter was his, and gave me the approximate age of each appliance in his 2-bedroom apartment. When I was leaving, I signed “thank you” – the only sign language I know. He grinned and signed back “you’re welcome.”
Getting to know these tenants and gaining their trust is critically important to be able to have a successful relationship with them. One of Lorenzo’s neighbors, Robert, struggled at first with CASA’s management policies. As he’s gotten to know our staff and to gain confidence in us, he has become a reliable and cooperative tenant. Griff Gatewood, CASA’s Housing Developer, has been working closely with each Orange County tenant as he coordinates the renovation work happening at their home. Robert pointed out a drainage issue to me: “Griff told me they’re going to install pipes to direct that water away from the building.” It was clear that he valued being included, informed, and treated as a partner in the renovation work.
Sonya was just getting home from her job at a local restaurant when I stopped by her apartment which she shares with her son and daughter. She hesitated while she signed the paperwork stating that CASA will not raise a tenant’s rent just because of the weatherization work. I reassured her that her rent will stay at just 30% of her income; if her hours get cut or she gets laid off, she will still only pay 30% of what she makes.
When I met Charles at his apartment, it was sweltering. In order to keep his electric bill low, Charles doesn’t turn on his air conditioning even when temperatures reach 95 degrees. As I explained to him how weatherizing his home will make his bill lower, we kept getting off topic – he seemed happy to have someone to talk to. With a dramatic flair, he told me stories about growing up in New Jersey and about the sports he played. He showed me one of his prized possessions: a tennis racquet from 1938. When I returned to his home a few days later to follow-up with some paperwork, he had turned on his air conditioning in anticipation of my visit. I truly felt welcomed.
I visited these tenants as an employee of CASA. But as a resident of Orange County myself, I got to know them as neighbors and fellow members of my community. As communities like Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, and Raleigh continue to struggle with how to house and serve people with disabilities, people who are homeless, and those with very low incomes, it’s easy to forget that these populations are comprised of unique, individual persons. I appreciate Terry, Lorenzo, Robert, Sonya and Charles for their hospitality and generosity, and for the unique person that each one of them is.
*All names have been changed to protect privacy
