Affordable senior housing takes form in Felida
By Marita Sempio
For 40 years, Specialized Housing Inc. has championed affordable housing throughout Oregon. Now, for the first time, the nonprofit is crossing the river to spearhead construction of homes for low-income seniors in Clark County.
The Felida Park Senior Housing project will consist of 65 two-bedroom apartments of affordable senior housing north of Vancouver in unincorporated Clark County. Construction began after a groundbreaking ceremony in October.
Brian McCarl, SHI’s executive director and board secretary, explains how the project came about: “We have seven people on our board, four of whom live in the Vancouver-Clark County area, and they said, ‘You need to take a hard look over here.’
“Everything that we have done previous to this project was in Oregon’s 26 counties. We came over here about four years ago and did diligence and research, and what became evident to us was that among a 78 million baby boomers, about two-thirds didn’t have a lot of resources other than maybe Medicare or Medicaid and Social Security.”
McCarl has more than 40 years of public and private real estate development experience in Oregon and Washington. He has been lauded for his commitment to creating affordable housing for seniors and individuals with special needs in urban areas.
SHI, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1981 to meet the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those with low incomes. McCarl is joined in the effort by board President George Welsh, other board members and SHI employees.
A critical need
Research in the Felida area reveals that 8% of residents aged 60 and older earn less than $15,000 annually. Another 8% of this population earns less than $25,000.
In the past 10 to 15 years, rents have increased dramatically, creating challenges for low-income seniors trying to afford housing. And very little multifamily housing is available: Over 80% of existing housing comprises four or fewer units.
The combination of rising rents and limited supply has created a shortfall of 2,700 housing units in Clark County, according to a county housing study, and the number of low-income seniors is projected to increase over the next decade.
By extending its expertise and community awareness to Clark County, SHI’s efforts with Felida Park are a remarkable example of what is achievable and a model for future developments here.
Many partners
Construction of Felida Park Senior Housing has been made possible by grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce and Firstenburg Foundation, and from investment partners that granted important tax credits. Key partners include the Clark County Commission on Aging, Vancouver Housing Authority and Clark County Public Health.
Tigard, Oregon-based Todd Construction Inc. is the general contractor for the project, which will include a private garden for residents and walking trails, access to the nearby 15-acre Felida Community Park and public transit service.
One important component of the project is the inclusion of an on-site Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) facility that will provide services from Providence ElderPlace, a subsidiary of Providence Health & Services. This Medicare and Medicaid comprehensive health care program was designed as an intervention that promotes wellness for low-income seniors.
“Providence estimates that there are 4,000 PACE-eligible seniors who live in Clark County,” McCarl says. “At just under 9,000 square feet, the Felida PACE clinic will likely serve 350 to 400 seniors who live anywhere in the county.”
Full slate of services
PACE services are not limited to those covered by Medicaid and Medicare. They include primary care (doctor and nursing), specialty medical, emergency and laboratory/X-ray services; dentistry; hospital care; prescription drugs; occupational and physical therapy; home and nursing home care; recreational therapy; meals; nutritional counseling; social services and social work counseling; and transportation.
An interdisciplinary team will assess needs, develop care plans and deliver services, including those of a primary care physician, nurse, personal care attendant, home care liaison, dietician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, recreational therapist or activity coordinator, social worker or driver.
Membership is elective: It will not be mandatory for Felida Park Senior Housing residents to become PACE clients. Clients do not have to be Felida Park Senior Housing residents. The basic admission criteria are that the individual must be a senior, at least 55 years old and eligible for Medicaid long-term care. Providence will determine eligibility.
PACE vans will pick up and drop off clients anywhere within a 45-minute radius of the Felida PACE Clinic for appointments, McCarl says. Clients will not be charged to join the program or to take part in services provided, use its transportation or pay monthly insurance costs, he says.
What’s ahead
Felida Park Senior Housing is expected to open for occupancy next February, with lease signups 90 to 120 days before that. The website is set to go live in October. Providence ElderCare has not determined the date for PACE registration.
Marita Sempio is the publisher of The Messenger.
