Affordable-housing advocates attended an intimate cocktail party at the home of Al and Pilar Turner last Monday, hosted by Maria Elena Kitchell, Gladys LaForge and Pilar Turner, to learn about plans to expand the St. Francis Manor housing facilities.
In 1972 Frank Zorc noted a lack of housing for limited-income seniors in Indian River County and began the project to develop St. Francis Manor to provide them with affordable, independent apartments. Since 1974 more than 900 seniors, who might otherwise find themselves homeless or living in substandard housing, have found a safe haven there.
“They all need one thing … a place to live,” said Board President Anthony Dzielski. “The residents of our apartments have an average income of $980 a month. St. Francis currently provides housing for 98 senior citizens, with more than 40 people on the waiting list. Every day somebody calls our executive director and asks for a place to live.”
“A year ago we averaged 30 individuals waiting to get in. But recently it has ballooned to 45 as more baby boomers retire, many of whom never recovered from the last recession,” said Louis Schacht, capital campaign co-chair with Kitchell.
To increase their housing capabilities, St. Francis is in the process of raising funds to add two buildings with 18 efficiency apartments for couples. The apartments sit on a 100-year lease, in alignment with the county’s comprehensive plan to provide affordable housing.
To date, the board has raised $1.2 million toward its Grow Homes at the Manor Capital Campaign goal of $2.025 million. Construction is set to begin in late spring.
According to a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, America is failing to meet the needs of our aging population, forcing millions of low-income seniors to sacrifice other necessities including food and health needs.
“Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a forgotten part of our community,” said Pilar Turner. “The elderly need a safe place to live and St. Francis does a great job.”
“When was the last time you attended a fundraising event for the elderly,” asked Kitchell. “Our elderly are overlooked. The people that we have at St. Francis Manor would most likely be homeless if not for our facility.”
“It’s a place that when you walk in you sense the need these people had. The Manor is where the rubber meets the road for many of them,” added Schacht.
Residency, based on a first-come, first-served basis, serves applicants with limited means and less than $25,000 total assets. Rent at St. Francis averages roughly $350 per month, as opposed to more than $700 in rent charged for a typical efficiency or one-bedroom apartment elsewhere in the county.
“St. Francis provides a much-needed service in the community,” said LaForge. “I got involved because I see what my elderly mother lives on. Any of us could find ourselves in the same situation.”
Guests were asked to help spread the seeds to grow more homes at St. Francis Manor, inviting them to take a tour of the facility, host a party to spread the word, or make a monetary donation.
On April 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. St. Francis Manor will host its annual All American Country BBQ Bash on its premises. For more information visit StFrancisManor.org or call 772-562-8575.
