Dedication ceremony celebrates the opening of The Gardens on Carolina
Today, Volunteers of America, one of the largest nonprofit providers of senior housing in the United States, dedicated the new 39-unit property, The Gardens on Carolina, which provides homes to seniors in Gary. Several residents have already moved into the facility and are enjoying their new homes.
“Our seniors are the ones who have worked here, raised their families here and now it is only fitting that they spend their years of retirement in comfort,” said Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson.
The Gardens on Carolina is eligible to residents where at least one member of the household is age 62 or over and meet income eligibility requirements of at or below 50 percent of median income. The facility is located on the corner of East 5th Avenue and Carolina Street on a 1.55 acre site. The facility is comprised of a single three-story building including 38 one-bedroom/one-bath units for elderly residents, and one two-bedroom apartment for the site manager. This facility was made possible by a capital advance of $5,464,200 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as project rental assistance contract funds.
In addition to Freeman-Wilson, attending today’s dedication were Pat Sheridan, Senior Vice President of Housing for Volunteers of America, Jack Gordon, Development Director of Volunteers of America, Inc., Shannon Schumacher, Interim President/CEO of Volunteers of America of Indiana, Elizabeth Johnson representing the office of Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-1st Congressional District-US), Representative Charlie Brown (D-3rd District Indiana), John Hall of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with project architects, contractors and community representatives.
“All seniors should be able to spend their later years in safe, comfortable homes that fit their limited budgets,” said Mike King, national president and CEO of Volunteers of America. “Just because someone has special needs related to their age doesn’t mean they have to move into a nursing home to receive care. These apartments provide much-needed affordable housing while also allowing long-time local residents to age in place instead of leaving to find the care they need.”
Volunteers of America owns and operates more than 370 affordable housing communities in 40 states and Puerto Rico. With a comprehensive variety of housing services, Volunteers of America responds to the varied needs of individuals and families – from sheltering those without homes to providing permanent, affordable apartments.
Volunteers of America has long provided home and community based services, independent and assisted living, and nursing care to seniors. Building on this tradition, the organization offers Aging with OptionsTM, focused on services that are people-centered rather than facility-based. Services provided are flexible to reflect the needs of seniors as they become less able to care for themselves while still maintaining independence. The 116 year-old organization is already one of the largest nonprofit providers of affordable senior housing, skilled nursing care and assisted living for seniors in the United States.