The Osceola County Council on Aging has completed a refurbishment of St. Cloud Hearts and Homes, also known as the Tracey Manor community, through a Community Development Block Grant of more than $500,000 from the City of St. Cloud.
The CDBG grant, part of a federal program under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides funding to support residential community development to primarily benefit low- and moderate-income individuals and families. These grants aim to create safe housing and suitable living environments, while providing expanded economic opportunities for local developers and contractors.
Tracy Manor, a 14-unit duplex community serving 21 senior residents, all aged 62 and older, is located on 19th Street. The OCOA Housing Management Program operates, manages, and oversees the social and community services aspect of the property.
This community development grant gave us the opportunity to both enhance and refurbish the units, from new kitchen cabinets to quartz countertops, new energy efficient refrigerators and ranges, plus updated fencing for privacy and security. Further, a new gazebo with a safety ramp was built, and provided by the OCOA’s home repair team and housing maintenance staff. Chuck Berkau, OCOA Senior Project Manager, oversaw the renovations.
“This project is part of the Council’s broader mission to provide safe, affordable housing for seniors,” he said. “We are grateful for the St. Cloud City Manager, and Economic Development team which supported not only the development, but the permitting and build-out processes.”
“Improvements also included energy-efficient, storm resistant windows and steel entry doors to enhance safety and weather protection, along with modern appliances designed to make daily life safer, brighter, and more affordable,” said Angelica Rodriguez-Perez, Osceola Council on Aging’s Senior Vice President of Housing. “Their smiles said it all. One by one, residents stepped forward to thank the community—and made us cry—for investing in the place they call home. We are grateful to Mayor Chris Robertson, for his leadership and specifically want to thank Antranette Forbes and Raquel Landero, for their efforts and all supporters of this endeavor.”
In past years, the City of St. Cloud employees have volunteered at Tracey Manor to paint, maintain landscaping and varying other cosmetic updates. With this grant, the OCOA team was able to not only support those cosmetic needs this year but finally oversee structural updates and safety upgrades.
The OCOA has a strong history of successful CDGBfunded local projects including developments like St. Cloud Villas I, which reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of seniors throughout our community.
“We are excited to see the beautiful improvements, and we know the residents will enjoy them,” said Veronica Miller, St. Cloud City Manager, during the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Our Housing Program was incepted in 1996, as a means of equipping residential arrangements for individuals with limited financial resources. Tracy Manor is one of five separate communities in which we manage, along with a neighborhood stabilization and house sharing programs within the Osceola community.
Together with local government and community support, the OCOA is proving that renovation can renew more than buildings—it renews people, along with community pride. Through our housing program we seek to add stability to family units and allow seniors to age in place. Stay tuned for the OCOA’s next chapter in adding more age-friendly, affordable housing across Osceola County.
