Canterbury House Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Field Office Director, Larry Knightner, South Carolina State Office was the Guest Speaker

The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence speaking to the audience at the celebration

Isabella Thomas, Program Assistant, Sandra Wood, Supervisory Project Manager, The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, Peggy Pye, Executive Director, Edmund Rhett, Jr., M.D., Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dawn Beard, Supervisory Project Manager and Larry Knightner, Field Office Director

Residents attending the celebration

Canterbury House, the first property in South Carolina to be financed with a 202 Direct Loan, is located in downtown historic Charleston. It has 204 units with no rental subsidy. The rents are structured to allow lower and moderate income residents to reside at the property. It is owned and managed by Episcopal Diocesan Housing, Inc., a non-profit sponsor. Mrs. Peggy Pye is the Executive Director.

The Service Coordinator Program at Canterbury House referred to as "Project House Calls", has been effectively impacting the lives of residents for more than eight years. Since its inception in October 2001, the Department has allocated a total of $428,087 in grant funding. The programs, made possible by the Service Coordinator Grant, allow seniors to remain independent and delay the need for expensive and difficult to find quality assisted-living and/or nursing home care.

They offer the residents many amenities such as: A wellness program staffed by a registered nurse and a social worker, interdenominational church services, 24-hour security, transportation to grocery stores, shopping and special outings. An exercise room, beauty shop, library, cafeteria, and a thrift shop are also available.

The wellness program offers blood pressure screening, diabetic monitoring, healthcare related consumer educational programs, prescription counseling and several other screenings. Canterbury House has a strong affiliation with the Medical University of South Carolina School of Health Professions. A grant from the State provides prescription subsidy for the seniors.

Their Mission is to provide safe, comfortable, and affordable housing for residents while promoting their physical, emotional and spiritual well being.

All programs are free to the residents of Canterbury House and Canterbury House East. Canterbury East, a sister property, opened in 2000 and has 46 units with rental assistance based on income and restricted to very low income residents.

Those in attendance were Mr. Mike Seekings, Esq., and Mr. Dudley Gregorie, Charleston City Council, The Canterbury House Board of Trustees, The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, President, Edmund Rhett, Jr., M. D., Chairman, and Mr. Dale Robertson, Secretary. HUD staff in attendance were Larry Knightner, Field Office Director, Sandra Wood, Supervisory Project Manager, Dawn Beard, Supervisory Project Manager, and Isabella Thomas, Program Assistant.