|
The Oregonian: Opinion Section
Date: 4/24/1998
Title: Housing Model Assistance
Elderly housing development shows faith community can leverage special benefits to fill aching social needs
Groundbreaking for an elderly and assisted-housing project In outer Southeast Portland Thursday marked an Innovative approach to a growing social need. But the development nearly stalled over tax-credit rules that need to be better clarified.
First, the good news.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, under the leadership of Father Michael Maslowsky and with the Port land Archdiocese’s blessing, created a nonprofit arm to develop Its five-acre site with a 17-unit apartment for independent elders, 86 units of assisted- living space and 24 units for Aizheimer patients. The development also will provide separate day-care sites for children, a community center for seniors and neighborhood residents and a new church building in a park like setting.
Having cleared its predevelopment hurdles, St. Anthony Village can now sell its federal housing tax credits to the private sector for the $2 million it needs a project down payment. The bulk of the proceeds, $10 million, will be financed by state-issued bonds for sale to investors.
But the project nearly washed out over tax-rule interpretations that are still around to hamstring other innovators- That needs fixing. A disagreement arose over whether assisted-living units were housing, which is eligible for federal tax credits, or medical treatment facilities. It is the first time that the state of Oregon has allowed such credits to be used for assisted living, but by no means should it be the last. The assisted-living units at St. Anthony Village will be apartments. They will offer seniors independent living with only what drop-in help they need. Assisted living is cheaper than premature nursing-home care, and it keeps more of the elderly Involved in the broader community.
How to house and care for a growing elderly population is going to occupy more of the public agenda In coming years. The project engaged by St. Anthony’s is a model other communities of faith should look at. But while they’re looking, Congress needs to set clear guidelines on the use of tax credits for assisted-living housing. St. Anthony’s has shown a place to begin.
< Go Back
|
