The Buen Vencino community space was dedicated to former OCOA President Beverly Hougland. Her children Warren and Christin helped dedicated a plaque in her honor. (Photo/Ken Jackson)
Going to a new place to live takes some help. Midwest native Stella Calderon will soon move into a new apartment in Kissimmee, so she’ll need … movers, right?
Not so much.
“I’m renting a room from a friend so I don’t have much,” said Calderon, who will soon move into Buen Vecino, a senior affordable housing complex tucked into a Buenaventura Lakes neighborhood.
She’s already gotten help from the Osceola Council on Aging — which got a lot of help from a lot of people, funds and groups to open the 60 units to provide seniors a safe place to call home.
At Friday’s ribbon cutting, a number of seniors like Calderon found out they’ve secured one of the single-bedroom efficiencies built by the Council.
“I get to tell me friends back home that I’ll have a place,” she said.
Friday’s opening was a watershed moment for the Council. CEO Wendy Ford, Senior Vice President of House Angelica Rodriguez Perez and the OCOA team have been working on this project, from acquiring the land to overseeing construction and permitting, for upwards of a decade.
It was supported in part by local investments — $5.2 million from Osceola County, $500,000 from the city of Kissimmee, $1.25 million from banking and the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds, and Spectrum, which donated $15,000 for a computer lab for residents to be able to connect with friends and family outside of the area.
Buen Vecino will remove the worry for those residents 62 and older of worrying about choosing what bills to pay each month — rent, groceries, prescriptions, and the like. Those making 30% of the area’s average monthly income could qualify and apply, and over 600 applications came in for those 60 units.
“When we opened our online app pre-application portal, more than 1,700 people visited the site, and our 60-person waiting list was filled in six minutes,” Perez said. “I've had the honor of overseeing this project from construction through today, and it is rewarding because we finally get to see years of planning and hard work become the home for 60 seniors.”
Those units have about 12x12 foot living room and bedroom spaces, walk-in showers and in-unit washers and dryers. The community features walking trails, supportive services, the Digital Learning Lab, and a clubhouse called the Beverly Houghland Friendship Center which will house communal dining and gathering space. It’s a homage to Ms. Hougland, Ford’s predecessor — and muse.
“I hope today has been worth the waiting, because of your generosity, 60 seniors will soon have a beautiful, safe and affordable place to call home,” Ford said. “These things don't just happen. Because an organization decides to build them they happen. That kind of commitment came from everyone who believed in this project.
Hoagland was present for the 2024 groundbreaking, but passed away in September.
“When Beverly dedicated her life to serving seniors and to building the organization that all of us have the privilege of serving today, she taught us leadership is not about a title,” Ford said. “It's about the people that you serve. When I'm faced with one of those really difficult decisions I find myself asking, what would be Beverly want me to do? She knew exactly what these apartments would mean for seniors in our community, and I'm so thankful to be able to live this dream for her today.”
County Commissioner Viviana Janer, whose District 2 includes BVL and Buen Vecino, has been a driving force behind this and other affordable housing projects.
“Osceola County remains committed and invested into creating more affordable housing, especially for our seniors, and I want to thank every single partner,” Janer said. “It really does take a village to get something like this done.”
State Rep. Jose Alvarez worked on the project when he served as the Housing and Urban Development Regional Administrator while the project was coming together.
“Homelessness is a pandemic … one we can fix,” he said. “Think of those still waiting for something like this. I’m proud to see residents moving in.
