MONROE - The Monroe Housing Authority board of commissioners has lowered the age requirement for prospective tenants at Churchill Woods Apartments.
Prospective tenants between the ages of 55 and 62 may now apply for the government housing, where rent is limited to 30 percent of an individual's income.
But to allow the lower age limit under U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules, the board also agreed to a resolution requiring eight hours of community service per month from younger tenants who are not disabled, and not working full-time.
Churchill Woods is operated by the Monroe Housing Authority under HUD. A tenant must meet age requirements or have a qualifying disability, and have an income of less than $35,850.
The list of acceptable community volunteer opportunities include schools and religious or community organizations.
Tenants must find their own volunteer work.
Commissioners voted unanimously to lower the age limits following a report Thursday on vacancies at Churchill Woods.
According to Cindy Johnson, executive director of Monroe Housing Authority, HUD is attempting to lower vacancies by 12,000 units nationwide this year.
Churchill Woods has five vacancies among its 85 units, a vacancy rate of about 6 percent.
"We have never had this many openings," Johnson said. "(HUD) is going to be asking, what are you doing to rent units?"
To push individual housing authorities to fill units, HUD is weighting vacancies more heavily in its approvals of capital funding requests, according to officials.
Churchill Woods has already increased advertising and marketing and has implemented some incentive offers, including half-priced cab tickets, which have helped draw more applicants.
But Johnson said her office also has been turning away some applicants because they were under the age limit of 62.
Churchill Woods Apartment could be facing even more vacancies, as its population ages. More than 60 percent of tenants are over age 70.
The average age is 73.
Johnson said many aging individuals are electing to stay in their homes, which may be paid off, while accepting living assistance for laundry, house cleaning or shopping.
Prospective tenants between the ages of 55 and 62 may now apply for the government housing, where rent is limited to 30 percent of an individual's income.
But to allow the lower age limit under U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules, the board also agreed to a resolution requiring eight hours of community service per month from younger tenants who are not disabled, and not working full-time.
Churchill Woods is operated by the Monroe Housing Authority under HUD. A tenant must meet age requirements or have a qualifying disability, and have an income of less than $35,850.
The list of acceptable community volunteer opportunities include schools and religious or community organizations.
Tenants must find their own volunteer work.
Commissioners voted unanimously to lower the age limits following a report Thursday on vacancies at Churchill Woods.
According to Cindy Johnson, executive director of Monroe Housing Authority, HUD is attempting to lower vacancies by 12,000 units nationwide this year.
Churchill Woods has five vacancies among its 85 units, a vacancy rate of about 6 percent.
"We have never had this many openings," Johnson said. "(HUD) is going to be asking, what are you doing to rent units?"
To push individual housing authorities to fill units, HUD is weighting vacancies more heavily in its approvals of capital funding requests, according to officials.
Churchill Woods has already increased advertising and marketing and has implemented some incentive offers, including half-priced cab tickets, which have helped draw more applicants.
But Johnson said her office also has been turning away some applicants because they were under the age limit of 62.
Churchill Woods Apartment could be facing even more vacancies, as its population ages. More than 60 percent of tenants are over age 70.
The average age is 73.
Johnson said many aging individuals are electing to stay in their homes, which may be paid off, while accepting living assistance for laundry, house cleaning or shopping.