HUD AWARDS BERNDARDINE APTS. IN SYRACUSE $8.5 MILLION TO ASSIST THE FRAIL ELDERLY

NEW YORK - Elderly Americans in New York, Connecticut, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio will soon find themselves living in upgraded apartments equipped to meet their physical needs because of $23.7 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD just announced the grants to help convert existing multifamily projects into assisted living facility for the elderly. Below is a description of the funding going to Bernardine Apartments in Syracuse.

The funding is provided through HUD's Assisted Living Conversion Program which provides grants for the physical conversion of eligible multifamily assisted housing projects or portions of projects to assisted living facilities.

"The funding we just announced will allow the elderly an opportunity to age in place in familiar surroundings as they become older and require supportive services," said HUD Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión. "These grants will provide an affordable option to nursing homes, helping seniors to live independently."

The Assisted Living Conversion Program grant of $8,587,883 to Bernardine Apartments will be used to convert 39 existing elderly units into assisted living units for the frail elderly to age in place. Bernardine Apartments is a twenty-three story apartment building that has successfully converted nine phases through the Assisted Living Conversion Program renovating floors 5 through 18. The renovations will include Life Safety system upgrades and an additional elevator with an area of refuge; the unit conversions will facilitate the delivery of services and will accommodate the changing needs of the residents and allow them to successfully age in place with independence and dignity.

Assisted living facilities are designed to accommodate low-income frail elderly persons and persons with disabilities who can live independently but need assistance with the activities of daily living such as help with eating, bathing, grooming, dressing and home management activities. These affordable facilities provide support services such as personal care, transportation, meals, and housekeeping.

The grants are awarded on a competitive basis. During the review process, HUD assesses several ranking factors including: the extent to which the conversion is needed by the persons that the project is intended to serve; the quality and effectiveness of the proposal in addressing the proposed conversion including the meals and supportive services which the project intends to provide; the ability of the project owner to secure other community resources which can be combined with the grant to achieve the program's purposes; and the capacity of the project owner to carry out the conversion in a timely and effective manner.

The owners are responsible for ensuring that converted units meet all local standards, codes and regulations governing assisted living facilities. The projects must also be licensed and regulated by the appropriate governing body.

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