By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor

Catholic Charities of Central Florida, using $5.8 million in federal stimulus money and $207,000 of its own funds, is set to begin construction this month on St. Anthony Garden Courts, an affordable housing project for the elderly, in St. Cloud.

The site for the project is the former Hamilton Parks development,  which had been platted for town house units, with four such buildings constructed there before the developer declared bankruptcy.

Residents at the facility that are 55 years old or older will pay no more than 30 percent of their adjusted gross income for rent, plus utilities. Twenty of the units will be set aside for residents whose household income is very low, and the remaining units will be set aside for residents whose household income is moderate.

Under an agreement with Osceola County, Catholic Charities will operate the facility for 20 years, with Miami-based Southern Properties Management providing management services.

Catholic Charities officials said the organization’s input is for the various impact fees associated with the development, which is in the city of St. Cloud. Officials also said that within 90 days of the proposed opening of the facility, vacancies would be advertised. The project should start taking residents in July, with full occupancy by mid-August, according to the agency’s timeline.

At the Dec. 20 Osceola County Commission meeting where county officials and staff were updated on the project, Commissioner John Quiñones asked whether priority would be given to local residents for living at the facility.

Catholic Charities officials responded that the agency would generate a list of possible residents from a variety of sources, which would include elderly housing waiting list for the Osceola County Council on Aging.

Other details include:

• Each housing unit will have its own washer and drier, two-bedroom units will be designed for a couple or someone with an attendant and there will be a community garden.

• Catholic Charities will own and operate the facility for 20 years as affordable housing for the elderly.

• Twenty units will be earmarked for residents with household income less than 50 percent of the area median income ($21,500 for an individual).

• 31 units will be restricted to residents with household income less than 80 percent of the area median income ($34,350).

• And rent will be restricted to no more than 30 percent of household income.

Rob Dent, marketing director for the Council on Aging, said the agency applauds the efforts of Catholic Charities to address the challenge of housing shortages for the elderly.

“By seeking collaborative relationships to provide affordable housing in our community, Catholic Charities is maximizing resources,” Dent said. “Affordable housing for the elderly is and will continue to be one of the most pressing issues facing not just the individual elderly person, but our community as a whole in the decades to come. What we’re seeing is just the proverbial ‘tip of the iceberg’ when it comes to housing needs for the elderly.”

Dent said that as low-income baby boomers downsize their living needs and look for financially manageable alternatives, the need for affordable and accessible housing will grow at an ever-increasing rate.

“Housing is basic to quality of life and if not addressed immediately, the need for such housing will overwhelm community resources unless approached with creative problem-solving,” he said.

The Council on Aging provides affordable housing for the elderly in both Kissimmee and St. Cloud with more than 225 low- to moderate-income apartments. But at present, waiting lists for all facilities are closed due to the limited number of apartments, the extended time required for a resident to be placed in one of the council’s facilities and the growing demand.

In many cases, it requires more than a year to be placed in affordable housing for the elderly, Dent said.