COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ann Barrett was one of the hundreds of people displaced from their homes on Christmas day after pipes full of sewage burst at the Latitude Five25 apartment building in Columbus.
She was one of the first to call 911 to report the problem. She received a call from the Columbus Division of Fire trying to get her out.
She has been unable to get back into her apartment since the incident, staying at the Red Roof Inn from Dec. 29 to Jan. 30.
“We had to just basically walk away high and dry with just what we had on our back,” said Barrett, who has kidney failure.
During the displacement, she was able to make all her dialysis appointments, but her overall health was impacted. She was unable to rest and eat a kidney friendly diet.
“I got no rest because I was up from early that morning, all the way to 9 p.m. at night, hoping and praying to see what the next day was going bring,” said Barrett.
She got approved for her apartment at Bretton Woods on her birthday, Jan. 18. While she got her keys that Wednesday, she had no furniture, just two outfits and one pair of shoes. The senior apartment caters to those who earn up to 60% of the area median income. They provided assistance and resources to fill out paperwork and get her housed.
“I had all my paperwork on hand and I got my key the same day,” said Barrett.
The 62-unit apartment offers independent living for seniors over the age of 55 and has free area transportation, as well as health care check ins.
CVS Health invested $5.2 million into the housing facility, and said that home is interconnected with health.
“Housing really is health care,” said Mike Avontis, who represents CVS Heath. “You know, we know that when people have access to housing or they don’t have access to housing, that is safe and is safe and clean and is stable, you know that they’re not able to take care of their health. When we talk about health, we talk about their physical health, we talk about their mental well-being, and we talk about their financial health.”
On a normal day, you’ll find Barrett visiting friends and hosting birthday parties for different residents. She said that she’s happy to be in an environment that caters to her overall health.
“I’m in a free environment,” said Barrett. “I don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll lay down and go to sleep.”
Bretton Woods is located in central Ohio and is currently at full capacity.
