ADRIAN, Mich. — It's been a long journey for residents of the Riverview Terrace apartment complex in Adrian who just two years ago went from comfort to chaos.
But now, there's hope on the doorstep.
"It's that community partnership and that community connection that's really allowing us to establish that next step for them," said Katherine Kosino, program director for Housing Help of Lenawee, a social services group that has supported the apartment complex's displaced residents over the past few years, through the Adrian Inn Supportive Housing Program.
"This program was never intended to be permanent housing," Kosino said.
But it was at least a roof and four walls.
The assistance had to come after inspectors found the 12-story high rise had major foundational issues and needed to close, forcing residents out the door in a matter of hours.
"Construction itself was basically tying the walls to the floors, and they used some kind of a cabling system to do that, and it was on every single floor," said Scott Beltz, CEO of Medallion Management, which owns the building.
Beltz said the project cost about $7 million and that the building was back open in early October.
With that, Beltz says apartments are available once again for the affected people — Kosino says was 60 people initially taken in at the Adrian Inn, and now just five or six are left, awaiting return.
The housing program doesn't just serve Riverview residents, though. So, how do others get help, even if they are not ready to leave despite the program's last day being Wednesday?
"We are taking our time to work with people to hopefully secure something," Kosino said. "I think everybody for the most part understands what is happening. Everyone has, at least everyone that's been willing to speak with me, has some type of plan."
That's the case for one anonymous tenant who did not come from Riverview. They say the Adrian Inn has had its aesthetic flaws and plenty of police calls. Since June of last year, Adrian police have responded to 280 calls.
However, the tenant is maintaining their appreciation for having the basics.
"To me, I'm just grateful to have a roof over my head," they said. "I didn't expect to live in a condo or the Hilton, and no one else should expect that either."