Low Income Residents and Formerly Homeless Adults Enjoy their New Homes in the Bronx

NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel Roberts helps Rosa M. Gil, President & CEO of Communilife cut the ribbon while HUD Region II D/RA Mirza Orriols and a joyous group of partners and stakeholders look on.

HUD Region II D/Regional Administrator Mirza Orriols speaks at the El Rio Residences ribbon cutting ceremony.

HUD Region II D/Regional Administrator Mirza Orriols delivered remarks at the grand opening of El Rio Residences, a newly constructed 65-unit supportive and affordable housing building in the West Farms section of The Bronx.

Communilife, a community-based health and housing service provider developed the site that has given a new life to 39 formerly homeless individuals and 26 low income tenants. The building features a community room, laundry facilities and a walkable neighborhood, as well as a green building with a minimal footprint so that its landscaped spaces, including thirty-foot front and back yards, are as large as possible.

HUD provided over $7 million dollars and 39 project-based Section 8 vouchers with supportive services for formerly homeless persons.

Other funding sources include $744,000 from the Bronx Borough, Tax Credit Equity through Red Stone Partners, Loan from NYC Housing Preservation & Development, and capital financing through the New York State Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance Homeless Housing and Assistance Program.

D/RA Orriols visited with formerly homeless resident Carol Sonnick who graciously allowed attendees to tour her apartment.

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