"This is the stove. We can't believe, you know, there's no flame, so. Do you cook it all? Yes, I do. I cook something last night. Very good," he said.
He showed off his new studio apartment. He's among the first residents to move into Freedom Village on East 2nd Street in Manhattan.
"I love it. It's great. I sit there and I put some steaming hot in about a half hour. The other day, just staring, daydreaming, you know? I like it," Hammond said.
Hammond is 66 years old and most recently shared a room with three men in Veterans housing. He faces a number of physical disabilities, which is why he qualified for Freedom Village.
Half of the 74 apartments are for seniors who are medically fragile, the other half is for domestic violence survivors with disabilities.
All of the housing is ADA compliant.
There are on-site programs including social work and occupational therapy.
"Supportive housing is a great model that has been proven over and over to help people stay out of the homeless shelter system and stay in the community, which is our goal," said Cynthia Amodeo, CEO Barrier Free Living.
Barrier Free Living operates four residential facilities. Freedom Village was built on the organizations original site which was a shelter. Residents pay 30% of their income to live there and they can stay as long as they want.
"Some people want to stay here for just a few years. And so, they can successfully, successfully meet their goals. And they move on from this model, which is fine, and people can stay here for as long as they want, 30, 40 years. It's up to them. This building is brand new, so we're going to be around for a very long time," Amodeo said.
"This is where I feel like I'm home. I feel like I'm supposed to be, it took a long time. It's a dream come true. You know, I really, it's amazing that this happened," Hammond said.
Barrier Free Living was able to build this supportive housing with state and city money and grants. It is a model they hope to replicate, and they know there is a need. The applications are pouring in.
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