On April 18, 2006, Volunteers of America officially celebrated the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony of its new South Oaks Senior Housing Community. The new affordable senior housing community is located at 11717 Teirney Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, and consists of 47 one-bedroom units for very, low-income elderly individuals, a two-bedroom unit for a resident manager, and a community room that encourages and provides various opportunities for social interaction and recreation by the residents.

New South Oaks Senior Housing Community located in Louisville, Kentucky.

Volunteers of America (VOA) is a national, nonprofit, spiritually based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. In 1896, the name Volunteers of America was selected to signify that the organization was comprised of people voluntarily choosing to help others. VOA is one of the largest nonprofit providers of quality affordable housing and last year served nearly two million people in need. Volunteers of America is a national organization, but each community is governed by a local board of directors. Programs are locally created, managed, and delivered through a network of community-based offices. Each local office determines the need of the community to be served then designs and operates human services to meet those needs.

Speakers at South Oaks Senior Housing Ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony (from left)Jack Sweeney, Chairman of South Oaks Senior Housing Board of Directors; Janie Burks, President/CEO of Volunteers of America; Carol Peterson, Senior Vice President of Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati; Melissa Berry, Director of Louisville Metro Housing and Community Development; And Krista Mills, Field Office Director of Kentucky HUD office.

Volunteers of America's elderly services programs promote health and independence for seniors. Nationally, Volunteers of America owns and operates more than 250 affordable housing communities in 31 states that are home to more than 20,000 people. VOA maintains the philosophy that housing for the elderly should reflect the needs and wants of the persons who reside in the homes. The facility should be capable from both design and operational perspectives to accommodate the changing needs of residents.

The South Oaks Senior Housing Community was developed under the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program. Volunteers of America was awarded an interest-free capital advance of nearly $3.4 million to construct rental housing with supportive services for the very low-income elderly. The advance remains interest-free and does not need to be repaid as long as the housing remains available to very low-income elderly people for at least 40 years.

South Oaks Senior Housing is a good illustration of a faith-based organization working together with public and private sectors to develop affordable housing for very low-income seniors. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati granted the development $499,000 under the Affordable Housing Program and Fifth Third Bank of Kentucky, Inc. donated an additional $1,000. These funds were used to afford the extra amenities located throughout the housing community that cannot be covered under the Section 202 capital advance. Some of the extra amenities and community spaces consist of: a screened porch with rocking chairs, a second floor community landing area with couches, a TV room, a sitting room, and a community room with kitchenette. Each of these amenities contribute to the warm, inviting atmosphere at South Oaks.

Back row from left: Janie Burks, Jack Sweeney, Charles A. Shive, Jr., And Melissa Berry. Front Row From Left: Martha Wolff, Paulene Jennenein, Kathleen House, Krista Mills, And Carol Peterson.

Many of the residents and even some of the neighbors attended the ribbon cutting and building dedication celebration. For many of the residents, South Oaks Senior Housing Community is a place to call home, but it feels especially homey to Martha Wolff, Paulene Jennienein, and Kathleen House. Martha, Paulene, and Kathleen are sisters! In fact, Paulene and Kathleen are twins. Each sister has come to South Oaks due to different life changing events. South Oaks has given them a unique opportunity to reminiscence about their childhood, to help one another adjust to a new phase of life, and to create irreplaceable memories. Could things get any better? As a matter of fact, YES! In June, their family reunion will be expanded when their brother, Harold Elder, moves into the South Oaks Senior Housing Community.