LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Donald Neafus finally has a new place he and his wife are proud to call home. He moved into the Lourdes Hall on Monday just hours after leaving Dosker Manor.
"It's a lot cleaner and it's a lot better than Dosker Manor, because Dosker Manor has gone downhill a lot," he said.
Neafus is one of many Dosker Manor residents who volunteered to be relocated as Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA) plans to demolish the 56-year-old building.
Neafus will miss his 12th floor view but nothing can compare to the clean space he now has.
"I love it's a lot bigger and it's homely, it's home to me," he said.
Over the years, Dosker Manor residents have reported they had been living in poor conditions with mold and bed bugs in the buildings.
Most recently, one of the largest buildings lost power twice; once because of a water leak that damaged the electrical system, and another after a sprinkler burst.
This move helps Neafus and his wife smile since their son is fighting terminal cancer.
He said he's not looking back even if better housing is built on Dosker Manor's property.
"For right now no, because after I get settled right here it will be fine," Neafus said.
More than 500 residents live in Dosker Manor and the goal is to get every resident moved over the next 12 to 18 months.
"Right now we are in the voluntary relocation phase for residents at Dosker Manor and we can tell you today that a couple dozen have moved out of Dosker Manor already," LMHA public information officer Jailen Leavell said.
LMHA has been moving quickly as they have been relocating tenants who live in Building A first.
"It feels good when you get to see them in their new unit and they call a better environment 'home,'" Leavell said.
Neafus said it took a while to get paperwork processed but he's happy to be in his new home.
"You just have to give them time," he said.
The housing authority said it varies every week how many Dosker Manor residents are moved. It all depends on if they qualify for certain housing and where residents choose to go.
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