Scenes from the Colony: Finding Home in Public Housing

Windows light up at nightfall at Colony Plaza, in Excelsior Springs, Mo. on September 22, 2022. Colony Plaza is a federally funded affordable living apartment tower in Excelsior Springs with 111 one bedroom apartments offering housing for people with low income.

The lobby at Colony Plaza on September 23, 2022, in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Colony Plaza is home to over 100 people from all walks of life.

Tanya Duncan sits for a rest after a day at the theatre, in her apartment at Colony Plaza, Excelsior Springs, Mo. on September 21, 2022. Tanya, born in Excelsior Springs, is the theatre director at the local Slightly Off Broadway theatre and teaches dance at the local dance studio, founded by her mother in 1945.

Linda Kearns, 66, collapses on her couch in her apartment at Colony Plaza, Excelsior Springs, Mo. to watch TV after a walk around the block. Linda cries every day over her son, Jason, who was killed by a gunshot in 1997. She says justice has never been done.

Residents of Colony Plaza gather for a weekly bingo night on Sept. 19, 2022, in the social room at Colony Plaza in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Delbert Odell (left), and Laura Mortensen (center), met at Colony Plaza in 2014 and plan to get married in the spring.

Glenn Untereiner, 76, a retired accountant, sits at his desk at Colony Plaza, Excelsior Springs, Mo. to watch the news, check his email, and read about medicinal herbs. Glenn, born in Missouri, lived in New York and California for two decades, and returned to Missouri after his wife, who suffered from depression, committed suicide.

Tony Temple, 55, sorts his laundry in his apparent at Colony Plaza, in Excelsior Springs, Mo. on September 22, 2022. Tony recently celebrated 90 days of sobriety, works at the local thrift store, and finds comfort in Bible studies.

Roberta Odell, 92, second from left, sits for a chat with the girls outside Colony Plaza, Excelsior Springs, Mo. on September 21, 2022. Roberta was born in Excelsior Springs and lived here all her life. She has three children, she still drives, and works as a cashier at the local diner. "I feel safe here. I have an elevator, I don't have to walk a lot, I have a laundry room downstairs and I have friendly people. The ladies call me Miss Roberta and I tell them: If you want to use foul language do it in your own home. You don't do that when you're with other people."

The door to Tanya Duncan’s apartment remains shut as Tanya is out working at the theatre, on September 18, 2022 in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Tanya is the matriarch of the only Jewish family in Excelsior Springs and she likes to salvage judaica items from local thrift stores. The word “Shalom” on her door sign is a Hebrew word that encompasses peace, well-being, hello and goodbye, homecoming.

Residents of Colony Plaza enjoy coloring night in the social room at Colony Plaza in Excelsior Springs, Mo. on September 22, 2022. Resident Services Coordinator, Dave Filliben, says his number one goal is to get residents out of their apartments to socialize, and social activities like bingo and coloring night support the residents’ mental health.