Resources for
Affordable
Housing
Using HOME
Dean A. Gallo Congregate Housing
Morris Township, New Jersey
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| The Dean A. Gallo Congregate Housing development combines affordable housing and services in an -attractive setting. | |
Many communities struggle with the issue of how best to house low-income elderly persons who need supportive services. In Morris Township, New Jersey, numerous elderly residents of a six-building public housing facility, Morris Mews, were prematurely placed in nursing homes to meet their need for services.
In 1993, the Morris County Housing Authority began to explore the possibility of developing a congregate living facility that would offer residents affordable units and assistance with activities of daily living. The authority, which had extensive development experience in both senior and family housing, consulted with the residents of Morris Mews and other senior housing complexes regarding their needs. A site for the facility was available adjacent to the Morris Mews complex, and the county donated the land to the housing authority.
The county allocated both HOME and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, through its competitive process, to develop the project. The housing authority used reserve funds from its Section 8 program and from an existing Rural Development Section 515 -project. USDA Rural Development (formerly the Farmers Home Administration) provided mortgage financing and rental assistance.
Construction of the Dean A. Gallo Congregate Housing project began in March 1995 and was completed in October 1996. The three-story facility has 19 one-bedroom units, each with living/dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. There is a central kitchen, a dining room, and a community room. The complex was fully occupied within 60 days of its completion. Most of the residents had previously lived either in Morris Mews or in one of the other senior developments owned by the housing authority.
The housing authority contracts with the county nursing home to provide a daily hot meal four days a week. On the other three days, the county nutrition program serves hot meals on site. (Prior to the development of this project, the housing authority had worked with both the Congregate Housing Services Program and the county nutrition program.) Other services available to residents include transportation, personal care, housekeeping, chore assistance, and laundry services. Residents pay for meals, and for other services according to their income and ability to pay. The State Congregate Housing Services Program subsidizes the cost of the services.
The availability of affordable housing and services has substantially reduced the number of residents placed in nursing homes prematurely and greatly enhanced the lives of its residents. In addition to receiving personal care and nutrition services, residents can participate in educational programs and activities and gatherings held in the building's common areas; they thus have increased opportunities for socialization. The development of the Dean A. Gallo Congregate Housing project has solved a widespread and difficult problem for some of Morris County's low-income seniors.
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Copyright 2000
Affordable Housing and HOME
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
630 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3736
Telephone: (202) 289-3500
Fax: (202) 289-4949