Community Caring Resource Network
Research Sources, Artifacts and Archives
Phase 1 Interviews Contents
Interviews for phase one were stakeholders, decision-makers, and other parties that would be part of launching the ministry.
Phase I Interviews
Ashley Chiles
Interviewee: Ashley Chiles
Position: Boulder Park Apartment Manager
Date: Feb 6, 2023
Location: Boulder Park Apartments, 7523 44th St W, University Place, WA 98466
Recording Media: Audio
Abstract: In this interview, I first began learning some of the basic information and history about the apartment complex, and more importantly, I was trying to build a relationship and rapport with Ashley, the apartment manager. During this meeting, I was surprised by the way she described her interactions with prospective and current residents, that is, there seemed to be a caring, even “pastoral”, empathy that she had for people. She talked about how easily people would open up to her about deep and significant problems and issues they were facing. When people move, she explained, they are usually in some kind of life-transition, such as a change of job, divorce, or even fleeing one’s country due to war! In fact, during this very interview we were interrupted by a knock on the door from a new resident, a young woman who was a refugee from Ukraine, needing to talk to Ashley about rental assistance.
Ashley manages 19 properties altogether. [This is a fact that became important as time went on. I realized that she does not really spend a lot of time on the property.]
Notable points from this interview.
- At move-in, residents often “share all kinds of personal information, so, as an apartment manager, you are involved in their lives, their kids, their financial information, their work information, they might be getting separated from a spouse, or going through a difficult time.”
- She believes that “you can’t just say not my problem, when a resident shares difficult things.”
- She would like to figure out how to “connect those who need help with the help that’s out there.” So she doesn’t continue on the road to burnout.
- She is very enthusiastic about some kind of Chaplaincy or Cares Coordinator program, but she wants to make it clear that people don’t have to be religious to get the help being offered.
- Most people have been here for more than 10 years, and about 65% of the residents are on some kind of rental assistance. They stay because they are getting a good deal.
- Communication with residents: Text and email.
- No bulletin board outside of the building (and once they move in, residents hardly ever go inside the building, so they never see the one in the office).
- No welcome bag given when people move in.
Other information:
- Boulder Park has 107 units total with 1-, 2-, 3-bedroom apartments, and a few 2 bedroom “townhomes”.
- Convenient location: Right next to Bridgeport Way, everything one may need is here.
- School system is great, University Place School District. Because of the very high tax-base of the area, this district has more resources than many others in the area.
- Boulder Park keeps expenses down because they “Haven’t done upgrades in a long time”, so they can keep the rates lower. The owner has recently started doing some upgrades. They have remodeled seven units.
Phase 1 Interviews Contents
Interviews for phase one were stakeholders, decision-makers, and other parties that would be part of launching the ministry.
Ashley Chiles
Interviewee: Ashley Chiles
Position: Boulder Park Apartment Manager
Date: Feb 27, 2023
Location: Boulder Park Apartments, 7523 44th St W, University Place, WA 98466
Recording Media: Audio
Abstract: In my second interview with Ashley, we continue discussing the various ways that she connects with residents at the complex. She opens with a story about a day that she was shopping at Safeway, and the check-out clerk was one of the residents at Bolder Park. This chance meeting was a vivid reminder of the connectedness of the people within a community, as they work, and live, and become a community together, each depending on the others to provide what is essential for everyday life.
I share with her about the importance of connecting with people at the time of move-in, as we know this is often a time of transition, and our desire to give new residents a welcome bag and visit. We discuss social media and the idea of using this as a tool for better communication.
While I am conducting the interview, Ashley receives a text from the mother of a tenant, who is asking Ashley if she has seen her daughter, as she has not heard form her, and now her daughter has missed an important meeting with a social worker from a housing agency. Ashley proceeds to describe for me some strange behaviors, and what seems to be a slow mental descent that was experienced by this resident. This led to a discussion about rental assistance programs and how she is often having to help with issues way outside of the normal scope of responsibilities for a property manager.
Notable points from this interview.
- We talk about communications between managements and residents.
- We discuss the idea of a Facebook Page (not a group) to advertise events and give information.
- We talk about the public job title for the apartment chaplain. Do we use Cares Coordinator, or something less spiritual-sounding than apartment chaplain?
- She walked me through what is contained in the Move-In Folder that she gives to new residents:
- Lease Agreement
- Information about the appliances, fans, mold and moisture
- Renters insurance information
- Information / discounts from local businesses
- No “Welcome Bag” at this time.
- We discuss the idea of me helping with a Welcome Bag that contains gifts for new residents that is delivered by me when new residents move in. [Some time later, she explains that she is hesitant to give me information on when a new resident is moving in, due to privacy and fair housing rules.]
- We discuss the slow remodel that is taking place. They are remodeling, whenever a resident moves, this means it takes a long time, because people tend to stay here a long time, as the prices are very low, and many are on assistance.
- There is a difficult process to raising the price for people on assistance, they must work with the housing program they have contracted with.
- Price example: $1550 3-bedroom in a 4-plex, when remodeled goes up to $2100.
- $1100 average 1-br, $1350 2-br, $1550 3-br., good deal, but haven’t been upgraded since the ’70’s.
- We discuss how the economy and inflation impacts rents, and people who are on a fixed income, and those who receive rental assistance.
- We also discussed the Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) program that provides rental assistance for people who are chronically homeless, and/or dealing with mental or substance abuse issues.