No Relief In Sight For Seniors Living Without Hot Water

By Andrea Flores

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Multiple gas leaks found at the beginning of May have caused seniors and disabled residents at the Aurora Homes Community on East Colfax Avenue to live without a hot shower or heat for 22 days.

"Please Lord, help us and give us hot water today," said Aurora Homes resident Dennis Donald, who has lived in the community for almost 4 years. "You try boiling water, putting it in the sink and bathing yourself that way for a month. We're feeling like the homeless."

The Department of Housing and Urban Development property is owned by Gateway Management. Gateway did not want to go on camera with CBS4, but said they're working diligently to find contractors who can replace piping throughout the property. When CBS4 asked the property managers when the hot water might be back, they couldn't give an answer.

Some seniors worry work on the issue isn't happening fast enough.

Joan and Skip Larsen have lived at Aurora Homes for 16 years and say their calls and complaints to HUD and Gateway Management have gone unanswered.

"They told us they were going have two crews out here to get these gas leaks fixed," said Skip Larsen. "Look around. Do you see any crews out here?"

While residents say there may be no relief in sight, Donald says something needs to happen soon, before it's too late.

"We've got another gal across the way, she's 98 years old," Donald said. "Is this a way to live? With no hot water or heat?"

Gateway told CBS4 they plan on providing some sort of compensation for the inconvenience.

In the meantime, Gateway tried to make up for the problem by providing hot showers at a community center a few miles away, but seniors say most of them haven't taken advantage of the offer because they don't have transportation to get there.