The cost of housing has been a topic of great scrutiny in news stories of late.  Many people have become quite wealthy during the recent real estate boom and are now seeing some of that wealth disappear as the air leaks from the so-called real estate "bubble".  Still others have been shut out of the American dream of owning their own home by rising home prices and interest rates.  Still more Americans are simply finding the basic need of sheltering their families a crisis in other terms - availability, affordability, accessibility, and locality to name a few. 

The Affordable Housing industry exists to meet these growing needs.  Last week Elizabeth

A resident proudly welcomes guests to her new home.

Brooks, Senior Manager, and Karen Spatz, Supervisor, represented the firm at the open houses of Tenny Street Apartments which offers 21 units of affordable housing for individuals aged 62 and older and Central Court Apartments which offers 8 units of multi-family affordable housing. These projects of the Columbia County Housing Corporation are located in Scott Township, Columbia County and offer immediate access to supportive service programs to families and elderly individuals with limited incomes. 

The Central Court Apartments are a wonderful example of said supportive service programs. The Columbia County Housing Corporation has worked in collaboration with The Women's Center, Inc. of Columbia/Montour and Columbia Montour Home Health. While residing at Central Court, residents must be enrolled in the Transitional housing Program.  Women's Center Staff will work with participants to develop and maintain a goal plan which could include any of the following:

• Job attainment
• GED attainment
• Enrollment in college
• Obtaining specialized training
• Handling legal issues such as child support or custody
• Management of time and money
• Anger and conflict management
• Working through abuse-related issues
• Improvements in parenting skills 

Upon completion of the Transitional Housing Program, the families can assume housing related obligations with the confidence that they know how to live in a self sufficient way and have taken significant steps toward improving their lives.

Projects such as these are critical to a community's long term success as they meet an established need, preserve green space and farmland, and contribute fully to the tax base.   

Unlike conventional commercial development projects, affordable housing projects make use of special financing and investments that require advanced forecasting, certification, and auditing.  These are the types of services that McKonly & Asbury offers to the affordable housing industry.  Funding from PHFA, other government agencies, and private investors such as banks, make these projects a reality.  In the case of Tenny Street Apartments and Central Court Apartments, the properties will operate as affordable housing for thirty years, enabling more people in our community to meet housing needs and live independently. 

McKonly & Asbury has a long history of service to the affordable housing industry.  Instantly recognizable projects, such as Lancaster City's Umbrella Works historic apartments, help make the communities we live in a better place for all of our neighbors.  Yet these projects require a business approach for viability that goes far beyond a simple charitable endeavor.  We are proud to help our clients in the affordable housing industry meet these important needs in long term and economically viable ways.