Elders living in the original units in Father Joe Murphy Elder Housing are seeing some updates to their homes as a renovation project is underway.
The three-phase project, made possible by an Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG), involves renovating 25 of the units over the course of a year.
The units expected to receive updates were built in the 1980s, with the rest of the houses in Father Joe Murphy added in 2005 and 2010.
CPN Director of Housing Scott George said the project kicked off in December 2025, and the seven units in the first phase were completed and ready for elders to move back in by the end of February. The second phase started in March.
All of the 25 units will receive updates, some more than others, according to need.
One of the first units received new flooring, cabinets and appliances, but it also needed significant changes to the layout. The original 1980s design had a small kitchen with walls dividing it from a breakfast nook and the living room. Those walls were taken out to open the space up and make it more handicap accessible. The bathtub was also replaced by a shower with a built-in shower chair.
Most of the units will be demoed down to the studs so spray foam insulation can be put in. Crews will then put in new sheet rock and fresh paint. Units 22-25 already received spray foam insulation updates in 2010, but they will still receive cosmetic updates to flooring, cabinets, appliances and the bathrooms.
Housing is also working with the University of Oklahoma through another grant to put geothermal heating and cooling in the units.
Vacant units are made available to residents while their homes are being renovated. The grant also allocated funds for moving expenses, both to move elders’ items into alternate units temporarily and then to move them back into their original units once the updates are complete. CPN’s Workforce & Social Services and housekeeping teams also helped elders with tasks such as packing.
If there are still funds leftover once the original 25 units are updated, George said they will also make some updates to the units built in 2005.
George said this is a “feather in the cap” for CPN, because receiving an ICDBG grant makes it easier to receive subsequent ICDBG grants.