In the Overlea section of Baltimore City, residents feel like they are “living at a resort,” in the high-rise building with an enclosed private garden. During a recent interview with a small group of residents of Catholic Charities Senior Housing at Everall Gardens, we asked them how they liked living there. A couple of the newer residents, Nellie Franczkowski, who has lived at Everall since March, 2011, and Mabel Kent, resident for 7 months, spoke about how much easier their lives are now that they are in their new apartments.
Ms. Franczkowski, who has some serious health problems, had been living in an environment that was making her health worse and moved to her own affordable apartment at Everall Gardens on the advice of her doctor. She appears happy and relaxed and is having a good time relaxing in the multi-purpose room with her new neighbors at the time the interview begins. After just 6 weeks of full-time residence, she already feels better and “breaths easier.” She says even her cat seems happier. She also appreciates that help agencies come to the building to help fill out forms so she doesn’t have to run all over town to complete the paperwork.
Ms. Kent says living with her family was nice, but that she was “working too hard taking care of everyone else.” At Everall, she is enjoying “having much less work.” She also enjoys “chillin’ in the multi-purpose room” with neighbors and playing bingo. There are bingo games in the building at least 4 nights a week. Ms. Kent also seems well on her way to becoming a community organizer and is already helping to care for the building and her new friends.
Other long-time residents, who have been at Everall for 4 – 10 years, had wonderful things to say about their homes there. They enjoy being “free to do what I want when I want,” and found their neighbors to be “nice and social.” They appreciate how easy it is to visit with others when they want by just walking down the hall. There’s a grocery store just a block away and the building is right on a main bus route, so it’s easy to get around.
Everall Gardens is one of the only Catholic Charities Senior Housing buildings to have openings at the present time, but the apartments go very quickly. All our properties welcome people of all faiths and Catholic Charities is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider. To see a list of all 22 Catholic Charities Senior Housing Communities, visit our website. On the website, you can also tour an apartment or learn how to apply and download an application packet. If you have any questions, please contact our main office at 443-798-3423 or housing@cc-md.org.