Tyler Barth
"Roosevelt Village," Willie Freeman, 71, snorted, "They should call it Roosevelt poorhouse." The World War II veteran spends his days playing cards in his decrepit apartment, a two bedroom residence with roaches crawling around the kitchen and grime stuck to the bathtub. Freeman is one of about 300 inhabitants of the Roosevelt Village, a mostly black community a quarter mile from Broad River Road.
"Roosevelt Village, they should call it Roosevelt Poorhouse." - Willie Freeman
For many years, tenants were afraid to go outside at night, with drugs, prostitution and drive by shootings frequently seen. But now, things are changing for the 49-year-old complex. "It was a caring environment," said a tall burly man who identified himself simply as Washington, "Now we're getting back to the point where folks are starting to care about one another." Washington, 44, is the president of the Roosevelt Village/Broad River Heights Association, tasked with making the residents of Roosevelt Village self-sufficient.
"It was a caring environment" - Washington
The change is due in part to the construction of a community center. The center, referred to as Village of Hope, was funded by a local church. Other factors in the change include citizen awareness and an increased presence of law enforcement. "I've noticed a tremendous increase in people coming and getting involved in the issues affecting their quality of life," said Columbia Police Chief Charles Austin, the pastor of the center's church, "Anywhere you are able to give people a renewed sense of hope, they can succeed."
"Anywhere you are able to give people a renewed sense of hope, they can succeed." - Charles Austin