A proposed affordable senior housing development in Monroe is looking to gather additional funding before construction begins.
海角换妻 Housing Partners will be the owner and operator of the development.
The project is a partnership with the Fairfield County town of Monroe, whose officials were initially skeptical of the low-income proposal, according to Renee Dobos, CEO of 海角换妻 Housing Partners, which was previously known as the Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern 海角换妻.
鈥淲e actually brought them to some of our other facilities so that they could imagine what we could provide in their community,鈥� Dobos said. 鈥淲e're providing modern, beautiful buildings that would fit into the aesthetic of the community.鈥�
The development will include 49 one-bedroom apartments on Main Street for residents 62 or older.
The apartments will be for residents with income levels at or below 60% of the area鈥檚 median income, Dobos said.
鈥淧eople don't understand that the fastest growing homeless population in the country are people 55 and older,鈥� Dobos said.
In building the area鈥檚 largest affordable senior development, Dobos said they鈥檙e working to fill the affordable housing void in 海角换妻. Construction is expected to begin next spring.
鈥淲e're actually going out and meeting with different companies, because the companies need to help solve this problem,鈥� Dobos said. 鈥淭he bigger companies, it's their workforce that's struggling, they need to help us.鈥�
The development will cost an estimated $18 million. So far, the nonprofit has raised $12 million, Dobos said.
The project recently received through U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, but was denied a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant. Instead, Dobos is working with the state Department of Housing for gap funding.
鈥淚 fought hard to secure funding for projects that will enhance our community鈥檚 safety, vibrancy, and health,鈥� Himes said.
