Families routed by apartment fire still need housing
WESTCHESTER » About half of the 45 families who were displaced by a devastating fire at Ashwood Apartments in North Coventry are still in need of permanent housing, according to Chester County officials.
The July 30 fire destroyed the apartment complex and left more than 100 residents homeless.
“Twenty of the families that lived in the apartments still need to find a new home, with 10 of these families continuing to be in hotels,” said Pat Bokovitz, director of the Chester County Department of Community Development. “The county has been providing hotel stays for the impacted families since the beginning, to the amount of $50,000, in order that no household finds themselves homeless due to this tragedy.”
Kelly Raggazino, executive director of Open Hearth Inc., said, “We have some specific housing needs right now, including a three-bedroom home for a family — preferably in the Owen J. Roberts School District. In addition, we need a few one-bedroom units that are handicapped accessible — preferably first-floor apartments.”
Phoenixville-based Open Hearth Inc. is one of the community organizations working with Chester County to support the needs of every family that lost its home to the fire.
Landlords with properties to rent in the Pottstown tri-county area are asked to contact the Housing Au
thority of Chester County via e-mail at ashwoodapartments@haccnet.org or via phone at 610-235-4484.
Monetary donations to support the families have been collected by Pottstownbased community support non-profit Tri County Community Network (TCN).
“Not surprising, the community has been tremendous in their response. In fact, through community donations, we are able to provide each family impacted by the fire with $2,000 to assist them in the transition into their new homes,” said Holly Parker, executive director of TCN.
The Community Warehouse Project of Chester County has been providing furniture to the impacted families and will continue to do so. Details of the how to make furniture donations can be found at http://communitywarehouseproject. com/donate/ or by calling 484-473-4360.
Chester County government officials acknowledge the great work being done by community organizations that have continued to provide ongoing case management services to the impacted families.
They include Branch Life Church, Open Hearth Inc., Orion Communities, Friends
Association, Handicrafters, Home of the Sparrow, Housing Authority of Chester County, North Star and Salvation Army of Pottstown.