Dana B. came to live at one of CPAH’s 55+ properties in 2023 after a stay in a rehabilitation facility. “I was totally blindsided and [could no longer live in my family’s home.] While I was still in rehab, [my case worker] came to me with all these opportunities I didn’t even know I was eligible for,” said Dana. Since 2023, she has enjoyed getting to know her property’s community and actively engages in monthly Bingo events, gardening in the resident garden, and walking her dog in the neighborhood.
In 2024, Dana was asked to join CPAH’s Resident Advisory Committee (RAC). “I was just flattered that they wanted me to do it, so I dove right in,” she said. The RAC brings together resident members from CPAH’s 12 properties, giving residents a direct voice across the organization. Currently the RAC has eight members from six properties and is actively expanding. The RAC does many things: providing feedback on CPAH’s Executive Director search, participating in forums with CPAH’s housing development team to shape what future properties need, and showing up for community events like Clean-Up Days and the annual Backpack and Coat Drive for youth residents. Through it all, RAC members build a stronger understanding of how CPAH operates and a stronger sense of community with the residents they represent.
In the last year, one of the RAC’s biggest undertakings has been creating Welcome Packets for new residents at each of CPAH’s 12 properties, with details specific to each property like fire and safety protocols, property management contacts, nearby shopping and food amenities, and Renter’s Insurance guides, among other things. The goal is to make move-in and the first few months at a CPAH property seamless and accessible.
Dana also values the line of communication and trust that the RAC provides for all residents. “It gives me more of an opportunity to connect with people in my community. They all know Dana, and Dana knows them. We have a nice relationship. They come to me when they have a problem, and then I report it to [our Resident Services Coordinator], things like energy assistance, needing another TV, whatever it might be,” said Dana.
For Dana, though, it’s the community itself that means the most. “[The residents are] the best part of living here. There’s so much wisdom under this roof. Everybody has a story. We have a female fighter pilot from World War II, and a resident who was raised in a log cabin in the Appalachians. I love talking with people and learning. I wouldn’t have access to that kind of wisdom if I wasn’t living in this environment,” remarked Dana.
Dana’s story is a reflection of what the RAC is all about: residents showing up for one another, sharing their voice, and shaping a stronger, more connected community at CPAH. Through her work on the committee and her everyday presence at her residence, Dana and her fellow RAC members continue to prove that a single resident’s care and initiative can make a home feel like family.
