It's been 30 years since Chapel House was 'born' in downtown Louisville. Owned and managed by Christian Church Homes of Kentucky, this HUD Multifamily development offered older adults - average age in the mid-60s - a place to call home in their Golden Years. How the world has changed since 1972! In the 21st Century, many more men and women in their mid-60s live active, more youthful lifestyles. But in Louisville, today's residents of Chapel House are in their mid-80s, on average.

Current Chapel House residents Corey Ell, Flora Magruder, Agnes Kaufman, Mildred Campbell, Margie Holloway, Louise Simpson, Evelyn Gering

The demographic shift underscored that people were living longer, but also that 2002's "older adults" needed additional services, and the building and housing units needed safety enhancements. Through much hard work and some good fortune, Chapel House will be 'born again' thanks to a $3.45 million Assisted Living Conversion Program grant. These grants, for established Multifamily Housing properties, enable owners to convert existing units to meet assisted living standards. In more and more communities, HUD funds and thoughtful local planning are providing affordable, intermediary options for the elderly - who decades ago would have little choice but to move to a nursing home. By design, assisted living facilities give older adults the maximum amount of independence while providing help with daily living activities such as meals, personal care, safety and transportation.

The HUD grant will provide Christian Church Homes of Kentucky the funds they need to certify 56 units as assisted living units, add a third elevator with an emergency generator, install an emergency response station, upgrade the heating and air conditioning systems, and reconfigure and renovate common areas to better serve the residents. The generator will provided emergency lighting throughout the building and will enable the newly installed elevator to work during power outages. A sliding scale fee paid by the residents will cover a small portion of the services that will accompany the new units once completed. Christian Church Homes of Kentucky will subsidize the remaining cost of services.

A grant signing ceremony was held at Chapel House with approximately 100 residents in attendance along with HUD and Christian Church Homes of Kentucky leadership. This new grant partnership builds upon a longstanding, fruitful relationship with this faith-based organization and the Office of Multifamily Housing and the Kentucky Field Office. The image shows participants at the recent grant signing ceremony: Ben Cook, HUD Field Office Director; Bill Huber, resident; Verna Ashby, resident; Charlie Shive, HUD Multifamily Housing Director; James Wilson, Director of Housing, Christian Church Homes of Kentucky (CCHK); Dan Prather, CCHK Vice President; Abbey Lipsey, resident; Dr. Kirk Alliman, CCHK President; Troy Burden, CCHK Administrator Residential Services.