HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Weeks after a fire displaced more than 100 residents of the Darby House apartments, a new recovery fund is buying them more time — but the search for affordable housing remains a struggle.
Carol Chivaro has been through a hotel stay, a move to an extended stay at Woodbridge Suites in Ashland, and hours on the phone searching for a permanent place to live since the fire.
"It's a very scary situation," Chivaro said. "I've never been in something like this before."
Despite the hardship, she says she is counting her blessings.
"As far as not having a place to live, we're fine. We're okay, and I've got to thank God for that," Chivaro said. "It's the long term that I'm worried about."
But the search for affordable permanent housing has taken a toll. Chivaro says the prices she has encountered have been far out of reach.
"I'm tired and I'm very stressed," Chivaro said. "I just wish it were over and I could find an apartment that I can afford. They just keep telling me thousands of dollars. $1300, $1500. I just talked to a lady, $3000 a month for a one-bedroom apartment ... $3000 dollars. You heard what I said, I told her I can't afford that."
Earlier this week, Chivaro says she and other residents learned they had until Friday to find permanent housing before Darby House would stop covering the cost of their extended stays.
"I said, where are we supposed to go Friday ... where are they gonna take us?" Chivaro said.
After CBS 6 reached out to Homes of America, the company behind Darby House, asking about the end of extended stay funding, the company responded with a memo stating that thanks to the combined efforts of the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, nonprofit partners, Henrico County, and an anonymous donor, a Darby House Recovery Fund has been created to support residents currently living at extended stays through the end of the month.
"I'm glad they've given us the extended time because we need the time," Chivaro said. "It's been hard."
The memo states the extension has a hard cutoff after the 31st, and that residents must contact Housing Opportunities Unlimited to begin the process of accessing permanent housing.
A spokesperson with Henrico County said that, in total, $50,000 was donated by an anonymous donor, adding that the funding will be dispersed by the United Way directly to the hotels.
Dr. Arlene Simmons with the Inspirations of Faith Emergency Support Center, who has been supplying Darby House residents with donated supplies, championed the joint-move by the United Way, area nonprofits, and the County.
"We have now been assured through Henrico County that all means will be exhausted to ensure that none of our Residents will be left unhoused and without support, which has been their greatest fear," Simmons said. "We appreciate all that the Red Cross, Henrico County Administration, First Responders, Donors and many others have and continue to do in collaboration of supporting our Seniors in this disaster."
However, while the donation is substantial, Simmons said in a statement that long-term financial needs of those displaced must be comprehensively addressed.
"In many cases the Residents continue to face numerous challenges in applying for housing elsewhere based on the list provided by Darby House, inclusive of them not meeting the income requirements, and/or other criteria, as well as availability," Simmons said. "These are challenges that are not unique to this situation, but are faced by so many others in our communities daily."
Chivaro says the extension is a start, but she remains worried about what comes next.
"I just want to know what's going to happen at the end of the month if we still don't have an apartment," Chivaro said. "I know they can't do it forever, and I understand that ... but what can we do? I'm praying that I have an apartment within the next few weeks."
A Henrico Spokesperson said that people who like to continue to support the fund can donate directly to the United Way and Feedmore to ensure Darby House's residents can get continued support until permanent housing for all has been secured.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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