Two new affordable housing developments geared toward seniors are currently in the works.
The Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness Committee approved a proposed loan agreement and grant agreement that would fund the construction and operation of St. Francis Center West, a 59-unit supportive housing complex for those 62 years and older experiencing homelessness.
The funding agreements are between the Department of Housing and Stability (HOST) and the St. Francis Center, a nonprofit focused on providing housing and other services for people experiencing homelessness.
St. Francis acquired the space at 221 Federal Blvd. in the Barnum neighborhood in 2022. Shortly after purchasing the vacant lot, St. Francis hosted a safe outdoor space for several months.
Former St. Francis Executive Director Tom Luehrs previously said the goal in buying the land was to build housing for seniors. With this funding, the organization has taken a big step forward.
The project will be a 60-unit building, with one apartment reserved for an on-site manager. There will be 51 one-bedroom apartments with 25 of them allocated to residents who make up to 30% of area median income, 25 for those making up to 50% AMI and one apartment for the manager. The other units are two-bedrooms with five being for residents making 30% and the rest making 50%.
For a single person to qualify, they'd have to make between $26,070 and $43,450 annually. Potential residents will be chosen through a vulnerability index.
Regardless of income levels, many of the residents will also be given project-based vouchers that ensure they can afford to live in the complex.
Besides housing, St. Francis Center West will also provide supportive services for residents. At the committee meeting, St. Francis' new CEO Nancy Burke said some of those services will include peer support, skill development lessons such as cooking classes or apartment maintenance tips, on-sight case managers to assist with income, Medicare and prescription resources, mental health clinicians and substance abuse services.
Burke said St. Francis operates through a housing-first method, which HOST agrees with.
"[St. Francis] has an intentional focus to target people transitioning from homelessness and specifically seniors with this property. We recognize that the solution to homelessness is housing and getting these units built is at the forefront to make sure that that becomes the basis from which [residents] can have stability and start to access services," said Renee Gallegos, the deputy director of housing opportunity with HOST. "We recognize that those types of wraparound services can be a critical piece of success for the residents that become housed in this facility."
During the committee meeting, Councilmember Paul Kashmann also acknowledged the need for housing and services in this type of development to ensure that folks get housing and have the ability to stay housed.
The funding agreements are two-fold.
A loan for $2.7 million will provide gap funding to construct the new development, while a grant for $1.35 million will fund the supportive services offered by St. Francis. Both the loan and grant funding comes from the Homelessness Resolution Fund.
This is the second time HOST has partnered with St. Francis to build affordable housing.
The Saint Francis Warren Residences opened in October 2021 inside a former historic church in the Cheesman Park neighborhood. The church was converted into 48 dorm-style units for those experiencing homelessness. It also provides supportive services such as voluntary vocational services and case management.
With the committee approving the proposed loans, the agreement will head before council in the upcoming weeks. If approved further down the line, construction will take about 15 months to complete.
This development for seniors isn't the only proposal city councilmembers saw this week.
On Monday, Council approved funding for another affordable housing development for seniors in the Harvey Park neighborhood at 2595 S. Federal Blvd.
The All Saints Apartment will be a four-story development with 63 units of housing, also for those 62 years and older. There will be 59 one-bedrooms and four studio units with 19% of the units being for those making at or below 30% AMI and 27% of the units for those making at or below 50% AMI. The remaining 34 units, all one-bedrooms, will be for residents making 60% AMI or a salary of $52,140 for one person.
The complex is being built by the Archdiocesan Housing, Inc., or Catholic Charities Housing, a nonprofit organization focused on providing shelter, affordable housing and other social needs.
The loan agreement approved by council was for $2,452,000, broken down into a $1.89 million 60-year performance loan and a $562,000 18-year cash flow loan.
With some funding secured, it will take about 14 months to construct and the property should start leasing units in fall 2024.
These projects are just the recent moves HOST has taken to fund housing projects for Denverites across the age and financial spectrum.
Gallegos said the department realizes there's a need overall for affordable housing and within those needs are subsections such as senior housing and youth housing.
"As we look at the full scope of needs across the city, there is need on both ends of the spectrum. So I think we are putting dollars to work across the full spectrum. Younger focus, older focus and the people in between," Gallegos said.
According to HOST, just over 1,600 affordable units "that have received city financing are currently under construction" or being preserved at 16 sites throughout the city. Another 541 units are either in the planned, approved or construction-ready phase and will break ground in about a year.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that many residents will receive vouchers to assist with rent payments.
