Seniors Only Pay One-Third Of Income, reports Carolyn Tyler
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO), October 17, 2007:
San Francisco officials estimate there are at least 10,000 seniors in their city who need affordable housing.
A celebration marked the opening of an innovative apartment complex, which is not your stereotypical senior center. From the outside, it looks like the church it once was. It was built in 1915 for a Christian Science congregation in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury neighborhood. Now this landmark will soon be home for 61-year-old Mei Chan.
The building had been vacant for years until the non-profit Citizens Housing Corporation stepped in to begin constructing the complex called Buena Vista Terrace in 2003.
"Usually you're trying to take down, demolish and build something new. But in this case, it was a historic building the neighborhood was really attached to and we found a way to build units inside the church," said James Buckley, Citizens Housing Corporation.
Throughout the building there are, what the developer calls, reminders of the past, like beautiful stained glass windows. Religious medallions have been preserved, decorative plaster work remains. A previous owner had planned to turn this gem into condominiums.
The city supported the current project with $7 million and the mayor was on hand to celebrate the opening. The federal government kicked in $5 million plus.
"We're providing a portion of the capitol funding that's the sticks and the bricks. And our program for supportive housing for the elderly also provides for rental subsidies," said Larry Fergison, HUD.
Mrs. Chan and the other seniors will pay no more than one-third of their income, a relief from San Francisco's rental nightmare. "The rent I'm having now is $1500 for one bedroom. It's hard for senior people to afford it," said Chan.
More than 1,000 people applied for the 40 units, an indication of how desperate the need is for more innovation solutions like this one.
Copyright 2007, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.
