Grant may fund new low-income senior housing facility
|
According to County Executive Kenneth Rogers, the Upper Cumberland Development District is handling the grant process, but the funds will actually be coming from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which will build and maintain the complex.
Although the grant is already in the works, Rogers said it may mid-summer before the county knows for certain the grant has been approved, though Rogers said he feels fairly confident it will go through.
Apartments will be available to any seniors who qualify. Single or double occupancy is allowed. In order to qualify, individuals must be 62 years old, or older, with a yearly income of $15,000 or less for a single person. Income qualifications for double occupancy has not been established as yet, according to Rogers. Rent for the units should run around $280 per month, which includes electricity and water.
The units are designed to accommodate seniors who are still able to care for themselves, but may not be able to maintain a single-dwelling home.
“Maybe they aren’t able to take care of their yards or handle minor home repairs anymore,” Rogers said, “but they can still cook and clean and take care of themselves.”
Rogers said the housing will provide a place where residents don’t have to worry about dealing with those issues.
The complex will be built on approximately two acres of county land, located almost directly across from the Farm Bureau Insurance office on Magness Drive. The land was appraised at around $70,000 but the county will be halving the price to around $35,000. The land deal has already been presented to the County Commission’s Land Committee and approved, Rogers said.
“If we can get this through, it will be at no cost to the county,” Rogers said. HUD will build the facility and also pay to maintain it for 40 years as part of the grant.
Rogers said the location of the facility is ideal, since it meets the criteria set out by the grant qualifications.
“It has to be close to hospitals, shopping centers, drug stores and banks,” Rogers said, noting the location meets all those criteria. The county will have to go through several steps before building begins, including tests on the land and a rezoning application, but if everything is approved, Rogers feels construction could start early next year.
Tentatively called Golden Oaks, though that name could change, the facility will include a central meeting room and a laundry facility. Apartments will be furnished and kitchen appliances will be provided.
“So many times our senior citizens are overlooked,” Rogers said, “and they are the backbone of our community. This is an opportunity that I felt we needed to take advantage of if at all possible.”