LEWISTON APARTMENT COMPLEX WINS HUD GRANT TO HELP ELDERLY RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AT HOME

BOISE - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan and Northwest HUD Regional Administrator Mary McBride today announced that the 40-unit Millcreek apartments in Lewiston, Idaho has won a $160,461 grant to help senior citizens in to receive health care, meals and other critical supportive services and enable them to live independent lives.

A total of 139 grants were awarded nationwide today through HUD's Multifamily Housing Service Coordinator Program (MHSC). The Millcreek Apartments complex is owned by the non-profit Northwest Real Estate Capital, Inc.

The $31.3 million in service coordinator grants are awarded to eligible owners of private housing developments that receive rental subsidies from HUD to house low-income individuals in 36 states and the District of Columbia. These property owners or their management companies either hire or contract service coordinators with backgrounds in providing social services, especially to the frail elderly and people with disabilities, to assist their residents with special needs.

"These service coordinators help us connect senior citizens with the services they need to live independently," said Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride. "We're getting older as a nation and these grants go a long way toward ensuring these vulnerable populations are well served and allowed to age in place."

The grants are awarded today are designed for an initial three-year period to allow eligible owners of multifamily housing for the elderly or disabled, to hire and support a service coordinator. The funds cover such costs as salary, benefits, quality assurance, training, office space, equipment, and other related administrative expenses. A 2008 HUD report found aging in place reduces rates of premature institutionalization for low-income elderly residents, thus reducing the costs borne by taxpayers.

As the U.S. population ages and the number of older Americans grows, there will be an increased need for programs to help very low-income elderly persons to continue living independently in their homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 35 million people age 65 years or older in the U.S. in 2000, and it estimates that by 2050 that number will climb to 80 million.

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