48-unit complex to house deaf, blind

Miss-Delectable · 07-21-2006, 11:46 PM

http://www.goupstate.com/apps/pbcs.d...32/1051/NEWS01

Ground broke Thursday on a 48-unit housing development for seniors who are deaf or blind.

The $5 million housing complex will be located across Cedar Springs Road from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind and is scheduled for completion by August 2007.

Apartments will be specially outfitted for elderly deaf or blind people.

"It's a very difficult thing to be a senior and be isolated," said Sheila Breitweiser, president of the SCSDB, but isolation can hit the disabled especially hard because they often already have difficulty mixing with the general population.

"None of the (eventual residents) will need to be isolated ever again."

Breitweiser said the school would work closely with housing residents to build mutually beneficial mentoring relationships with students.

Market studies indicated that such a project was badly needed, said Roy Johnson, executive director of the Spartanburg Housing Authority.

The units will be available even to those who do not have sight or hearing impairments, but it's expected that the vast majority of residents will be deaf or blind.

Residents are expected to be drawn from across the state.

Most of the money for the development comes from the Chicago-based National Equity Fund, which assists with public housing developments nationwide. NEF will receive substantial tax credits for building the low-income housing.

07-21-2006, 11:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,855 Blog Entries: 3	48-unit complex to house deaf, blind http://www.goupstate.com/apps/pbcs.d...32/1051/NEWS01 Ground broke Thursday on a 48-unit housing development for seniors who are deaf or blind. The $5 million housing complex will be located across Cedar Springs Road from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind and is scheduled for completion by August 2007. Apartments will be specially outfitted for elderly deaf or blind people. "It's a very difficult thing to be a senior and be isolated," said Sheila Breitweiser, president of the SCSDB, but isolation can hit the disabled especially hard because they often already have difficulty mixing with the general population. "None of the (eventual residents) will need to be isolated ever again." Breitweiser said the school would work closely with housing residents to build mutually beneficial mentoring relationships with students. Market studies indicated that such a project was badly needed, said Roy Johnson, executive director of the Spartanburg Housing Authority. The units will be available even to those who do not have sight or hearing impairments, but it's expected that the vast majority of residents will be deaf or blind. Residents are expected to be drawn from across the state. Most of the money for the development comes from the Chicago-based National Equity Fund, which assists with public housing developments nationwide. NEF will receive substantial tax credits for building the low-income housing.

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