LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Donald Neafus and his wife have lived at Dosker Manor for about three years, but that was more than enough time. When they were given the chance to move, they jumped at the opportunity — and not a minute too soon.
On the heels of a weekend without power, Neafus was one of the first residents to be moved out of Louisville's troubled public housing complex.
Donald Neafus, a now former Dosker Manor resident, speaks to WDRB from his new apartment on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (WDRB photo)
Aside from spotty power, Dosker Manor has been plagued with issues, and Louisville Metro Housing Authority is moving ahead with plans to move people out.
"'Cause this place is like heaven. Ya know, it is a lot cleaner," Neafus said of his new home.
Power was restored Sunday in Building C after a water line failed, sending water seeping into an electrical panel, taking out the lights, air conditioning and elevators for about 48 hours. But it wasn't first time power had been out there. Two weeks ago, power was out for about 24 hours, also at Building C.
A history of poor maintenance at Dosker Manor — dirty hallways, litter, mice, mold, bed bugs — and crime led to Metro Council calling for an investigation into LMHA. Some councilmembers went so far as to call LMHA "the worst slumlord of them all."
Neafus lived through the dark days of Dosker Manor, and said he is thrilled to leave it all behind.
"Dosker Manor has gone downhill, a lot," he said Monday.
At his new apartment, all of his belongings are neatly stacked in boxes, the kitchen pantry is partly stocked and the boxes in the bedroom are the first to be unpacked.
Neafus said he started packing right after the Kentucky Derby, and the past few weeks have been a waiting game with an endless stream of paperwork.
Last month, LMHA said they had 100 apartments open and ready for residents from Dosker Manor. But there is nothing easy about moving and finding a new place to live.
LMHA is paying for the move and has hired a moving contractor that will do everything for residents — pack their apartments and unpack them at their new place. If residents move themselves, they can be reimbursed up to $1,300.
"It is based on the residents. The resident has to find where they want to go, there are surveys, do they qualify with their voucher and actually where they want to go? I mean today we can move one person and tomorrow we could move six, it is a day-by-day case," LMHA Public Information Officer Jailen Leavell said.
More than 500 people call Dosker Manor home. LMHA is moving people out of Building A first.
For Neafus, getting out of Dosker and into a freshly painted and clean apartment is nothing short of amazing.
"I loved it, it is a lot bigger and it is homely. It is home to me," he said.
It could take up to 18 months to move all residents out of Dosker Manor. LMHA has said it plans to demolish the public housing complex.
Previous Coverage:
- Power restored at Louisville's Dosker Manor after being out for nearly 48 hours
- Louisville's Dosker Manor residents facing another power outage after sprinkler floods building
- Power restored to Dosker Manor nearly 24 hours after Thursday afternoon outage
- Louisville Metro Housing Authority undergoes major overhaul under new director
- LMHA finding a way to tackle critical shortage of affordable housing in Louisville
- LMHA to begin relocating residents from Louisville's Dosker Manor so it can be torn down
- Dosker Manor residents anxiously wait for the Louisville Metro Housing Authority to relocate them
- Mayor Craig Greenberg agrees with assessment to demolish Dosker Manor in downtown Louisville
- Louisville Metro Housing Authority looking into possible demolition of Dosker Manor
- Dosker Manor residents sharing problematic issues in survey to Louisville Metro Housing Authority
- City of Louisville seeking feedback from Dosker Manor residents on living experience
- Under new leadership, Louisville Metro Housing Authority using city funding to remedy issues at Dosker Manor
- Residents of Dosker Manor share violent, deplorable conditions to city of Louisville officials
- Louisville Metro Council orders investigation of Metro Housing Authority
- New leader of Louisville Metro Housing Authority calls conditions at Dosker Manor 'unacceptable,' discusses solutions
- 'Horrible, horrible' | Louisville Metro Council calls for investigation into Metro Housing Authority
- Louisville native tapped to lead housing authority after complaints, poor conditions forced out previous director
- Dosker Manor tenants say their public housing is unsafe and 'disgusting' as LMHA works to make changes
- 'Mold, mice, bed bugs' | Residents of Louisville Metro Housing Authority plea for improved living conditions
- Director of Louisville Metro Housing Authority to retire amid calls for her termination
- LMHA director asking Dosker Manor residents to report concerns as councilmembers call for change
- Dosker Manor residents living with mold, bed bugs as councilmembers call for change
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