The Department's San Antonio Multifamily Program Center recently joined the Del Rio Rotary Club to celebrate the groundbreaking of Rotary Village II, a 12-unit elderly project. The new project is located next to Rotary Village I, another 41-unit project for the elderly.

Groundbreaking for the 12-unit elderly project was a collaborative affair that included representatives from the San Antonio Field Office and the Del Rio Rotary Club.

The new project is a result of a partnership between the local Rotary Club and the Housing Authority of the City of Del Rio, the management agency.

The Rotary Club uses elderly housing as an opportunity to show their appreciation for the elderly by providing them with comfortable and safe housing, which is in high demand, given the long waiting list for apartments.

Community involvement is high at the projects. Among the many services for residents are free biweekly blood pressure checks. Other services include library workers reading or telling stories in Spanish or English, beauticians providing free haircuts and manicures, and health care workers talking about preventive health measures.

Free blood pressure screenings will be one of the services provided to residents.	When the new Rotary Village project is completed, seniors will have a total of 53 units set aside for their housing needs

Del Rio is situated just across the Rio Grande River from Mexico. The residents are a "rainbow coalition" and despite some language differences, they have no difficulty communicating with their neighbors. Because many moved from sub-standard, multi-generational households, they truly cherish their first place of their own.