Half the units will be for those who make 30 percent or less of the area’s median income — $23,700 for a single person or $27,000 for a married couple. The other half will be for those who make between 30 percent and 50 percent of the median income — $39,500 for a single person and $45,000 for a couple.
Seventeen of the units will be reserved for those who are exiting homelessness.
All of the units will qualify for rental subsidies, so none of the residents will pay more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.
The need for affordable housing among older adults is growing.
According to Council for the Homeless data, 1,144 people 55 and older experienced homelessness last year. About 10 percent of them were 70 years or older.
The Columbian has previously reported that housing costs and a limited safety net are forcing older adults onto the streets. Widows and widowers are especially vulnerable to housing instability as living costs are difficult to manage on one income.
“A couple years back, there was an article that Vancouver was one of the least affordable cities in Washington for seniors. We definitely saw that need and that’s why we were really aggressive in applying for funding,” Caesar said.
The federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit provided $21.4 million to the project to build Laurel Manor, about 64 percent of the $33.5 million project. The project also drew from the city of Vancouver Affordable Housing Fund, as well as other state and federal sources.
“This literally is a supply and demand issue: Not only does it benefit people here, but it creates the supply that helps take off some of the pressure in the local community. If we build more housing like Laurel Manor, it will help us keep down the cost in the larger region,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell said. The Washington Democrat toured the building in late October to show support for enhancing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
Laurel Manor was designed for residents to age in place. It is fully accessible with wider corridors and a communal space to reduce social isolation for the tenants. Solar panels will reduce energy costs for residents.
Caesar said the Vancouver Housing Authority (which founded Columbia Non-Profit Housing as a separate entity in 1981) is looking to build a 40-unit apartment complex for older adults in Washougal to continue meeting the need of the aging population.
“This is really just a drop in the bucket. We really need more affordable housing for seniors because they really are one of our most vulnerable populations and we don’t want them to fall into homelessness,” Caesar said.
