Accessible apartments built with federal funds
Hospital is landlord for the disabled
When a survey showed their community lacked safe, affordable, accessible housing for the disabled, administrators at Walton Rehabilitation Hospital took a bold step the hospital decided to build its own handicapped-accessible apartments using federal funds.
The Augusta, GA, rehabilitation provider is building a 20-unit two-bedroom apartment complex, using $1.49 million in funds from an 811 Program grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The complex, scheduled for completion in March, had a waiting list of 30 names by Dec. 1.
Two smaller apartment complexes and a group home, also built with HUD 811 funds, opened in 1996.
Walton Rehab got into the landlord business when a needs assessment of the disabled community showed housing was a major problem, particularly for families, says Beth Miller, community services division director.
"Our vision is to serve the needs of disabled individuals beyond the walls of the hospital. When we found that housing was a need, we looked at ways to meet that need as a service to the community," Miller says.
Walton Rehab’s goal is to break even on the apartments, says Roger Jacobs, residential services assistant.
The HUD grant pays for purchase of land and construction of the apartments. The hospital is responsible for maintaining the buildings, using the funds it receives as rent.
Rental rates, or the hospital’s management fee for each unit, are mandated by HUD. For instance, the rent for a two-bedroom unit in the new apartment complex is set at $216 a month. This compares to a typical rent of $400 to $450 for privately owned apartments in the same neighborhood, Jacobs says.
Residents’ actual rents are based on 30% of their adjusted gross income. HUD subsidizes any shortfall, so Walton receives the full $216 per unit. The rental income pays for garbage pickup, maintenance, water and sewer fees, yard care, insurance, and other operating costs.
For the group home, HUD sets the rental rate, which covers maintenance, but the hospital pays for the 24-hour supervision, Miller says.
When Walton’s brain injury team did a survey of apartments for the disabled, they found that most of the city’s accessible apartments were efficiencies and were not suitable for a family or someone requiring a personal care attendant.
Because many people with physical disabilities are on a limited income, they need economical housing that is also accessible and safe, Jacobs adds.
Walton Manor is a six-bedroom group home occupied by five people with disabilities who need minimal supervision and a homemaker, who provides meals and assists with the residents’ needs.
The hospital also operates a triplex and a nine-unit apartment complex.
Walton’s housing is in safe, stable residential sections and designed to fit in with the neighborhood, so as not to stigmatize the residents, Miller says. For instance, all apartments are ground-level, avoiding the need for ramps that would identify the apartments as designed for the handicapped, she adds.
The hospital purposely kept the complexes small and made sure they are located near public transportation.
All of the housing is completely handicapped accessible according to specifications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Roll-in showers
For instance, there are roll-in showers, wide doors for wheelchair accessibility, and accessible kitchen appliances, such as a stove that a wheelchair can roll under.
Doorbells also have a bulb that light up to let the hearing impaired know that someone is at the door. Smoke detectors have extra-loud alarms and flashing lights to accommodate both the hearing and vision impaired.
Referrals for the housing come from the rehab hospital, community services, and word of mouth. All of the housing has operated at capacity from the day they opened.
People who want to live in the apartments must meet HUD criteria regarding income requirements and go on a waiting list that is filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Two hospital staff spend part of their time managing the housing program.
"We try to be more than just landlords. We try to help our residents find the other community resources they need," Jacobs says.
It took more than three years between the time Walton Rehab submitted its first application for the federal grant and when the first complex opened in January 1996, Jacobs says.
Now that the hospital has documented the need for the housing and its capability of building and operating the units, the process is shorter, he adds.
The hospital had to have an option on the land for the apartments and all construction plans before submitting the application.
The property had to meet strict HUD criteria, which includes size and cost restrictions, Jacob says. It also had to meet local government standards, such as being zoned for multi-family use.
• AOTA’s 1997 Annual Conference and Exposition April 11-15, 1997, Orlando, FL. Sponsor: American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Contact: AOTA, 4720 Montgomery Lane, P. O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Telephone: (800) SAY-AOTA (members only); (301) 652-2682.
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