WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a total of $23,851,600 under its “Section 202” program to three nonprofit organizations to build affordable housing for low-income seniors in Maryland.
“This funding exemplifies our commitment to our senior citizens, particularly when they become in need of greater assistance,” said Senator Cardin. “Seniors deserve the resources and services that will make it possible for them to live independently as long as possible in our community. This funding will do just that by allowing many Maryland seniors to remain independent for an extended period of time.”
“Honor thy mother and father isn’t just a good commandment to live by, it’s good policy to govern by,” Senator Mikulski said. “Providing safe and affordable housing for Maryland’s seniors has always been one of my top priorities. I’m proud that these federal dollars will help provide the resources necessary for seniors to get affordable housing with the care and services they need.”
Associated Catholic Charities will use its $11,588,900 HUD grant to construct 86 units of low-income housing for seniors in Fullerton, Maryland. The Associated Catholic Charities first received HUD funding to build 47 low-income housing units for seniors in July of 2010, bringing the total number of HUD-funded housing units in Fullerton to 133. This most recent HUD grant to Associated Catholic Charities is the largest single grant from the Department that the organization has ever received.
Homes for America will use its $4,177,500 HUD grant to buy a currently under-utilized four-story wing of an existing building in Emmitsburg, Maryland owned by the organization Daughters of Charity. Homes for America will build 44 apartments for low-income seniors. Daughters of Charity currently operates nursing care and assisted living facilities with a dining program, indoor therapeutic pool and other services that residents of the future HUD-funded apartments will be able to use.
The Associated will use its $8,085,200 HUD grant to build Renaissance Gardens, which will consist of 60 one-bedroom units for very low-income elderly persons in the Park Heights neighborhood of Baltimore City. The project is the first major redevelopment initiative in the Park Heights community, and will meet LEED Silver and Energy Star requirements. A service coordinator will enable residents to access a variety of programs to promote good health, wellness and independent living. There will be numerous common areas for seniors to enjoy, including outside gardens and porches, a multi-purpose room, game room, and arts and crafts area.
HUD’s Section 202 program allows elderly persons to live as independently as possible in communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services. Under this program, capital advances are made to private nonprofit organizations or nonprofit consumer cooperatives to build, acquire, and/or rehabilitate rental housing with supportive services for elderly persons who are 62 years or older. The capital advance is
interest-free and does not have to be repaid as long as the housing remains available for very low-income elderly persons for at last 40 years.
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