United Church Homes Celebrates Grand Re-Opening of Capitol Station Following Major Renovations and Housing Preservation Effort

INDIANAPOLIS — March 31, 2026 — United Church Homes (UCH) celebrated the grand re-opening of Capitol Station on Thursday, March 26, marking the completion of an extensive renovation and federal housing preservation effort that secures long-term affordability for low-income older adults in Indianapolis.

The event highlighted the successful execution of a Rental Assistance Demonstration for Project Rental Assistance Contract (RAD for PRAC) conversion through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. With additional capital for renovation generated via the 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity, this milestone ensures that all 50 apartments at Capitol Station remain affordable while undergoing a full modernization totaling more than $120,000 per apartment.

Guests and partners gathered to mark the community’s transformation. Following remarks from organizational leaders and project partners, attendees toured several newly renovated apartments, viewing firsthand the upgrades that improve both quality of life and long-term sustainability for residents.

The renovation project delivered significant improvements throughout the community, including updated kitchens and bathrooms, new HVAC systems, enhanced electrical and plumbing systems, accessibility upgrades, energy-efficient enhancements and strengthened safety features. Together, these renovations respond to the growing need for high-quality, affordable housing options for older adults in Indianapolis, ensuring residents can thrive in a safe, comfortable and supportive environment.

The transformation of Capitol Station was guided by the United Church Homes Preservation Team, led by Nate Bollinger, senior vice president of asset stewardship and Kevin Deegan, vice president of UCH Preservation. The team is dedicated to leveraging available federal housing programs and collaborating with key partners to preserve qualifying UCH properties nationwide. Their work ensures long-term affordability and modernization across UCH’s portfolio of nearly 80 owned and managed affordable housing communities throughout the United States.

“This renovation represents far more than upgraded apartments — it is an investment in dignity, stability, and opportunity for the older adults who call Capitol Station home,” said Ken Young, President and CEO of United Church Homes. “Through RAD for PRAC and the support of our partners, we have secured the long-term affordability of this community while ensuring residents have a safe, modern, and meaningful place to age abundantly.”

Speakers at the event included Young, along with members of the UCH leadership team. Representatives from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Marble Cliff Capital, Parkway Construction and First Financial Bank were also in attendance.

Lona White, a Capitol Station resident who addressed attendees expressed heartfelt appreciation for the transformation. “I love all the colors, all the furniture, everything! Since I have been here, I have made new friends, enjoyed creating memories and having so much fun. I find myself staying in my apartment more, but I enjoy and love my apartment—my home. Thank you, United Church Homes. Thank you to all who made this happen. I’m excited to see what the future holds for us,” she shared.

The celebration concluded with refreshments and guided tours of the upgraded spaces. The revitalized Capitol Station stands as a testament to United Church Homes’ ongoing commitment to preserving affordable housing and enriching the lives of older adults across the country.

The event was held at Capitol Station, 7828 Madison Ave., Indianapolis, IN.

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For more than a century, United Church Homes has been dedicated to transforming the lives of older adults with quality housing and compassionate care. Now recognized as the 19th largest multisite nonprofit senior living organization in the U.S., according to the 2026 LeadingAge Ziegler 200 ranking, UCH proudly serves nearly 7,000 residents across more than 90 vibrant communities in 15 states and two Native American nations. Driven by a mission to redefine aging, UCH creates a culture of community, wholeness and peace for those it has the honor to serve. As a founding member of Radiant Alliance, United Church Homes continues to lead the way in shaping the future of senior living. 

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My curls arrived early and made themselves known immediately—springy, stubborn, and completely uninterested in doing what other hair was doing. From the beginning, my hair was less “sweet baby wisps” and more “science experiment meets small rebellion.” 

Little did I know that theme would follow me through much of my life. 

For a while, my curls were celebrated. They matched my personality—chatty, energetic, and a little wild. People said they were cute. Manageable chaos. Acceptable chaos. 

But somewhere around fifth or sixth grade, I started to notice something troubling: the other girls carried hairbrushes. They brushed their hair between classes. Their hair laid smooth and shiny against their shoulders, obedient and cooperative. They wore pigtails and braids that stayed where they were told. 

My hair did not. 

I couldn’t wear my hair like the other girls. And when I tried, it didn’t look the same. Mine was thick, coarse, frizzy, and determined to do its own thing. It was not smooth. It was not orderly. It was not impressed by trends. 

By junior high, I was desperate to belong. So I talked my mom into letting me get the haircut of the 90s—the Jennifer Aniston “Friends” shag. She tried to talk me out of it. But remember: I was as stubborn as my curls. 

The moment the scissors stopped, I knew I had made a terrible mistake. 

Instead of effortless layers, I had what can only be described as a helmet. A very full, very curly helmet. In an era when curls were deeply uncool. Junior high students, being the compassionate souls they are, did not hold back. 

“Nice hair, Ashley.”
“You have a ‘fro!”
“Why don’t you just straighten it?” 

Straightening wasn’t really an option back then. The tools weren’t great, and neither was the technique. Every attempt made my hair—and the comments—worse. By the time junior high ended, my self-esteem had followed my hair into complete chaos. 

Eventually, I gave up on trends and let my curls grow long. But I didn’t embrace them—I tolerated them. I avoided talking about my hair. Compliments hurt almost as much as criticism. It felt superficial, sure—but also deeply personal. I couldn’t change it. And I didn’t know how to belong with it. 

Then I met my husband. 

While we were dating, he said something that shifted everything. He told me to stop straightening my hair. Stop fighting it. “Your curls are unique,” he said. “God gave them to you. Why would you want to change what God gave you?” 

That question landed somewhere deep. 

Why was I trying so hard to fit into a world I wasn’t designed for? Why was I working overtime to hide something that was part of how I was created? 

I never straightened my hair again. 

Belonging can be beautiful—but it can also be exhausting when it requires us to become someone else. Too often, belonging is confused with blending in, sanding down edges, or hiding parts of ourselves to be accepted. 

But Scripture tells a different story. 

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14) 

Not eventually acceptable. Not once improved. Wonderfully made—right now, curls and all. 

As we age, the temptation to belong doesn’t go away. In many ways, it gets louder. Bodies change. Roles shift. Independence looks different. And the pressure to fit into someone else’s version of “normal” can feel overwhelming. 

Abundant living isn’t about fitting a mold—it’s about being valued exactly as we are. True belonging doesn’t ask us to erase our stories, our identities, or our quirks. It invites us to bring them fully. 

Or, as Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

Sometimes transformation looks like letting your hair do what it was always meant to do. 

Belonging doesn’t require perfection. It requires honesty. And the courage to let your curls be curls. 

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