The grant will focus on making residential facilities “comfortable” rather than simply livable.
Ark Morris, which runs group homes and treatment programs for developmentally disabled adults in North Jersey, received $123,000 from Lowe’s, the home improvement chain.
“Grants will focus on making our residential facilities not just livable, but comfortable,” Ark Morris Director Laura Jennings Pitt said Wednesday. “We’re upgrading basic amenities like bathrooms, floors, windows and kitchen counters. These improvements are designed not just to look good, but to enhance the daily experience of our residents.”
The funding was announced last week: Lowe’s will provide $100 million in funding to projects across the country through its “Hometown” grants to revitalize community spaces by 2026. The company is partnering with local nonprofits to select 100 large-scale community projects.
It’s a win for the 15 people who live in the Ark Morris managed apartment complex in Morris Plains. The two-story building is designed to meet the safety and accessibility needs of residents, but many agencies don’t have the funds to make it a home residents can feel comfortable in or be proud of, Jennings-Pitt said.
In group homes, money is often prioritized to fix what’s broken. Repair work is far more common than improving quality of life: Fixing a leaky roof, replacing worn-out carpets.
“We just didn’t have the financial wherewithal to stop and analyze what it would take to make this house habitable,” Jennings-Pitt said.
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When Jennings-Pitt filled out her Lowe’s grant application, she emphasized her desire to shift from providing functional living spaces to providing attractive housing.
“What do we need to do to make sure our residents feel comfortable living here? Upgrading the homes we manage is a really important priority for the authority,” she said. “When you walk in it should be a beautiful home with a beautiful kitchen, a beautiful bedroom, nice furniture.”
Jennings-Pitt said Ark Morris wants to create an environment its residents can be proud of. “We want to create homes that they can walk in and say, ‘Wow, this is amazing. I want to live here.'”
That’s the vision behind the Lowe’s grant-funded planned renovations: quality of life improvements that will give residents a more comfortable and fulfilling living experience.
Jennings-Pitt said these improvements go beyond physical upgrades: The renovations take into account the unique needs of residents.
Improvements include ramps, non-slip flooring and accessible bathrooms and kitchens, while improved lighting, more modern fixtures and comfortable furniture create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Materials selected for the renovation will be durable, low-maintenance and suitable for high-use areas, and living environments will be designed to enhance occupants’ moods and mental well-being by incorporating elements such as natural light and private, relaxing spaces.
The company will be watching to see how much the improvements help, said Melinda Iannarone, chief programs officer.
“We’re going to look at the incidence rates of any incidents related to mental health diagnoses, depression and so on,” Iannarone said, “but we’re also going to get feedback from the residents who live in the program about how they feel in the space, verbal feedback and written feedback. Are they happy that they have a renovated space where they can bring their friends and family? Are they proud of this space, just like you and I are proud of our home?”