Grant provides safer housing for UCH seniors in Georgia

A significant grant from the Cobb EMC Foundation has allowed Laurel’s Edge, an affordable senior living community in Kennesaw, Georgia, and part of United Church Homes (UCH), to complete its long-awaited flooring replacement project.

“This grant is a game-changer for Laurel’s Edge,” said Katie Davis, senior area housing manager. “The new flooring creates a safer, cleaner environment for our residents and ensures our community remains a welcoming space for families and volunteers. We’re deeply grateful to the Cobb EMC Foundation for their ongoing support.”

Laurel’s Edge provides affordable housing where residents pay just 30% of their adjusted monthly income for rent. Many residents will benefit from the new vinyl plank flooring, which replaces 20-year-old carpet in the common areas and apartments. The upgrade addresses critical health and safety concerns, including odors, allergens and snags in the old carpet posing particular challenges for residents using walkers and wheelchairs. The durable vinyl flooring, which is easier and less costly to mop and sanitize, reduces the spread of viral respiratory illnesses, offering immediate benefits to the nearly 300 people served annually.

Resident Dianne Nathaniel has lived at Laurel’s Edge since 2015. She was originally in an apartment with carpeting, and likes the new flooring much more. “I walk with a walker, and this floor just feels safer,” she said. “The carpeting was so thin, and I would often trip on it. And cleaning is so much easier with the new flooring.”

The project received an initial boost from a $5,000 internal grant program and was further supported by 26 prior Cobb EMC Foundation grants. UCH installed vinyl plank flooring in the first-floor common areas, portions of the second floor, and the first 30 apartments as funding became available, enabling residents to enjoy the benefits step by step. With a total estimated cost of $75,119, the latest Cobb EMC Foundation support will finalize the flooring upgrade for the remaining 20 apartments.

The new flooring also supports the longevity of the community with minimal ongoing maintenance costs. United Church Homes remains committed to transforming aging through innovative solutions like this, ensuring Laurel’s Edge continues to serve even more older adults for years to come.

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