Hotels Housing Seniors Displaced by Burst Pipe

Seniors in Charlotte, North Carolina, displaced by a pipe burst last Christmas, should be able to remain housed at local hotels until the end of February, according to Charlotte’s WCNC news.

Late last December, a number of facilities throughout the United States found itself dealing with burst pipes, due to extremely cold temperatures. Worst hit were locations in southern town and cities not accustomed to frigid cold weather.

The property management at the affected Magnolia Senior Apartments, along with the city of Charlotte, have covered the expenses for 60 residents displaced due to the pipe burst to stay at area hotels. Originally due to end in January, the stays will now be extended through February, assuming that the funding for those hotel rooms will be available.  

Carol Hardison, CEO of Crisis Assistance Ministry, said her organization is working around the clock to guarantee the funds necessary for the February extension and felt confident that would happen. The next step, she said, is for the organization Housing Collaborative to find future living arrangements for the seniors. Another organization, Champion House of Care, is also assisting by providing food, transportation, and toiletries.

“It’s really nice but…it is not the same thing as being home,” Nilka McDonald, one of the senior residents, told WCNC. “But, you know, we have to make the best of it and be grateful for what we do have.”

Some residents have started to search on their own for accommodations but have encountered unaffordable rents.

“The whole situation of housing in North Carolina is terrible,” said McDonald. “I can’t afford the rent they are trying to charge. I’m scared. I’m really scared because I just don’t know. I can’t sleep, and I just don’t know how much longer I can go on. I think I’ve aged since this all happened.”

To avoid the problems associated with burst pipes, check out Preventing Burst Pipes in Your Facility.