HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS

1
HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
Homestead Apartments 421 East 8th
Street Homestead, PA 15120
- 240 Units -

• Partners
• Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA)
• TREK Development Group
• Community LIFE
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Braddock
• Senior Service Program

2
BACKGROUND

• Homestead Apartments was only affordable housing
  in neighborhood
• Needed to improve services to elderly
• Plan was to create Assisted Living Facility
• Pennsylvania does not allow for Medicaid Waivers
  at this time
• Received HOPE VI grant of 2.5 million in 1998

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
3
DESIGN / STAFFING

• Amenities
• Communal space and laundry facilities (All
  floors)
• Libraries and Community Rooms (All towers)
• Wellness Center
• 14,000 Square Foot Community LIFE Center

Services Kitchen and dining area, personal
hygiene and laundry room and a beauty
salon/barber shop
Some units are accessible and all are
visitable To date, one tower has been
completed.
HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
4
PROCESS

• Originally, only one of the four towers would be
  converted to an ALF
• Improvements were to be made to all units in
  that tower
• Residents strongly supported the redevelopment
• TREK Development Group was selected to be the
  developer
• ACHA and TREK partnered to form Homestead
  Housing Development Partnership, LLC

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
5
PROCESS (Continued)

• ALF could not be developed because Pennsylvania
  does not have an appropriate Medicaid waiver
• The 350 units will be renovated, resulting in
  240 rehabbed units
• Only three of four towers are using HOPE VI
  funds
• ACHA/TREK contracted with Community LIFE Center
  to provide enhanced supportive services to the
  elderly

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
6

PROCESS (Continued)
112,102 per unit
- Four towers will be renovated (Three using
HOPE VI)
HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
7
MANAGEMENT / MARKETING

• ACHA manages Homestead Apartments
• Staff of two and a half
• Enhanced services are provided by outside
  service providers
• The units are being re-occupied by original
  residents
• No marketing campaign is necessary

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
8
CHALLENGES/FAILURES/LESSONS LEARNED

• Many residents choose not to access services
• Residents are reluctant to switch primary care
  physician
• Some residents see services as leading to
  nursing home
• Need to include enrollment requirements in lease
• Another challenge is providing services to
  immigrants

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
9

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/SUCCESSES/HIGHLIGHTS

• Major success is in provision of supportive
  services
• Two quality service providers are under contract
• Community LIFE provides acute and long-term care
  services in a day care setting for frail elders
• Pennsylvania pays Community LIFE for PACE
  services under Medicaid
• Participants must meet criteria for services
• The Community LIFE Center uses a one stop shop
  model

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
10
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/SUCCESSES/HIGHLIGHTS

• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
  Braddock Senior Service Program Nurses provides
  enhanced services for the elderly
• At full capacity, up to 150 will be able to be
  enrolled
• Social workers are on site two days a week and
  plan activities
• Nurses are available for routine monitoring
• UPMC will staff the Wellness Center
• UPMC receives approximately 300-500 resident
  visits

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA
11
SUMMATION

• Comprehensive, affordable services are available
  outside of ALF
• Importance of partnering with elderly,
  established service providers
• Funding includes HOPE VI, capital funds, CDBG
  and Pennsylvania Housing Finance

HOMESTEAD APARTMENTS
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA