Dozens of elderly and disabled residents living at the Northfield enriched housing program are pushing back against an abrupt order to vacate within 30 days. They plan to protest publicly and call on elected officials to stop the closure that threatens their tight-knit community.
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Residents Given Notice
Residents at Northfield in Fairport were shocked when Family Service of Rochester notified them they must leave within a month. Many of the seniors say the sudden move is putting their well-being at risk.
Longtime Tenants Speak
Janice Bell, who recently became a U.S. citizen, shared how the news has deeply affected her. “Two years I have lived here, and I have to move again. And it’s taking a toll on me,” Bell said.
Community Bonds Lost
Joan Nersinger, 98, has called Northfield home for nearly ten years and says the forced relocation will break apart friendships built over the years. “Yes, I love them all. Yes, I’ve been here for eight years,” she said. Another resident echoed the loss, saying, “That’s the only thing. We’re not just losing a place; we’re losing our friends.”
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Nonprofit Defends Decision
Family Service of Rochester operates the program, which helps elderly and disabled people live independently. In a letter, the nonprofit’s leadership promised the site would stay open until every tenant found housing.
Secret Recording Revealed
Despite those assurances, an audio recording obtained by News10NBC captured a meeting where Jean Lowe, the board president, offered a blunt reality. “The bottom line is, there won’t be money to pay the electric bill.”…