AmeriCorps/HealthCorps Volunteers Teach First Aid to Villa Verde Children
AmeriCorps/HealthCorps volunteers gave of their time and resources to teach emergency safety to children in the Villa Verde apartment complex throughout the month of March. The non-profit
organization initiated an after school program mentoring children in how to handle a medical emergency. Volunteers helped children understand what should be done when encountering an emergency situation, when to call 9-1-1, and what to say when reporting a medical emergency. (read more)
Youngsters gained hands-on experience in giving descriptive information to an imaginary 9-1-1 operator. The children also assembled first aid kits, learning how to identify different wounds and which type of bandages to dress them.
Over the past year, volunteers have engaged the children in crafts that are fun and educational. For example, they made paper turkeys for Thanksgiving and valentines in February.
Classes were held in the Villa Verde community room, a new center created when the Aurora Housing Authority completed rehabilitation of the apartment complex in 2004. Villa Verde is located in the 1600 block of Alton St. in Original Aurora. The community room offers residents and the neighborhood helpful services and beneficial resources.
The community room has hosted many other activities including the City of Aurora Mobile Playground, Girl Scouts, a computer lab, and after school homework help.
Grand Opening Celebration Planned for Plaza Townhomes at Macon and Moline
A Grand Opening celebration for the Plaza Townhomes at Macon and Moline near Fitzsimons is planned for June 5 at 1 p.m. The event will be held in conjunction with Denver’s second annual Affordable Housing Week, sponsored by Enterprise Community Partners.
AHA is acting as project developer, providing oversight to the general contractor BC Builders. AHA also is a special limited partner, which assures property tax exemption. (read more)
Pre-leasing has begun on the development which will offer 30 two-story townhouse style units in three buildings with a mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom units. Each location will also have 17 parking spaces located on the ground level below the units. The Moline Street location will have a leasing office and a community room available for use by all neighborhood residents.
Ten units will be set aside for families participating in the Families in Transition program, an Aurora Housing Corporation program that assists homeless families. The remaining 20 units will be available for households at or below 60% of the area median income. Proposed rents for those units will range from $395 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit up to $875 for a four- bedroom, three bathroom unit. Enterprise Community Investments is AHC’s partner in this development. Construction financing is being provided by Citywide Banks and permanent financing is being provided by the Colorado Housing and Financing Authority. Additional funds came from the City of Aurora’s HOME program and the Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing program.
AHA to Host Affordable Housing Design Tour
The Residences at Trolley Park and the Plaza Townhomes at Macon & Moline will be featured on Housing Colorado’s annual Affordable Housing Design Tour, Friday, June 15, 2007. The Residences at Trolley Park is a development of the AHA, while the Plaza Townhome project is being developed by the Aurora Housing Corporation.
The tour group will enjoy lunch at the AHA’s newly renovated
Fletcher Gardens apartments, followed by a presentation on the
design and sustainability aspects of the two developments. To
register for the luncheon and the tour, please contact Housing
Colorado at www.housingcolorado.org or by calling Kirsten Vermulen
at (303)863-0123.
Snow Slows Construction on Residences
at Trolley Park
Construction of Residences at Trolley Park at 14th and Dallas St. in Original Aurora came to a virtual standstill when the area was hit with back-to-back snowstorms in December and January. Construction re-started in February, and crews are working furiously to make up for lost time.
The Aurora Housing Authority is acting as general contractor for the development, and sub-contracting all major work. The pouring of the concrete foundation, shoring, and deck for the underground parking lot was delayed until April, but framing for the 38-unit property is now in full swing. Three 4-bedroom townhomes will be ready for occupancy in early June, and the 35 apartment units will be completed in July.
AHA Board Bids Farewell to Paul Reid
AHA Commissioner Paul Reid has retired from the Board after 19 years of service. When he was appointed to the AHA Board by Mayor Paul Tauer in April 1988, AHA was assisting 986 families and 
managed an annual operating budget of $2.3 million. At the end of Paul’s tenure earlier this year, AHA had grown to assist more than 3,000 families with an operating budget exceeding $25 million annually. An additional 148 housing units are under construction that will be added to AHA’s portfolio in 2007, including partnership units, Tax Credit units, and units owned by the Aurora Housing Corporation. AHA is now serving a broader range of clients, including seniors, homeless families, and people with disabilities, as well as more clients.
Reid had served on the Board for two years when he was elected Chairman in 1990. He was continuously re-elected Chairman for the next 15 years. In 2006, he was elected to serve as Vice Chairman, an office he held until January of 2007.
Reid was instrumental in securing funding for the Urban Homesteading program in 1991. Under the Urban Homesteading program the Housing Authority developed a partnership with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Housing Corporation to acquire, renovate and sell HUD foreclosed properties to first-time homebuyers. Additionally, it was through Reid’s determination that AHA received funding in 1992 for another home ownership program, HOPE III.
Reid has been the Vice President of Commissioners for the Mountain Plains Council of NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials).
The Mountain Plains Regional Council (MPRC) of NAHRO is one of eight regional councils nationwide established to facilitate widespread participation in NAHRO programs and to serve as a means of recognizing the special local interests of its members.
As Vice President for Commissioners, Reid assisted in the creation of a new web-based professional development system for commissioners, improved the quality of commissioner tracks at both the Mountain Plains and the Colorado NAHRO conferences, and improved communication among commissioners in the region.
"Paul provided tremendous leadership to the Housing Authority during his tenure on the Board. Not only has the Authority grown in size and scope, but it now has a strong financial foundation that will ensure its sustainability for years to come. All of us at the Authority are grateful for his guidance. He has been a valued asset and a good friend to the Authority and we wish him well,” said Preston Prince, Executive Director of the Authority.
Fletcher Gardens Apartments Renovated, Rededicated
AHA celebrated the year-long $2.3 million renovation of the 93-unit Fletcher Gardens senior apartments with a rededication ceremony and open house in early December 2006. The eight-story 
building at 1401 Emporia St. in Aurora has provided affordable housing to low-income seniors since 1978. (read more)
Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer praised the revitalization efforts of the Aurora Housing Authority, and told the residents and many guests gathered for the event that “the people here deserve to live in an upgraded and beautified home.”
Fletcher Gardens resident Lois Keener complimented the dedication and friendliness of the AHA construction staff, who performed most of th
e renovations. Ms. Keener also commented on the new colorful façade, “I’m proud to call this new arts district landmark my home.” She added the most exciting part about the renovation is the new common space for resident activities.
Financing for the project was made possible by City of Aurora Private Activity Bonds, and the allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. US Bank did a private placement of the bonds, which provided reduced interest loans for the renovation and the permanent debt. Apollo Housing Capital was the equity investor who purchased the tax credits.
Originally opened in December 1978, the property was still functional, but “tired.” The year-long renovation project included interior, exterior and system renovations. The new façade was painted in vibrant colors, complementing other nearby East Colfax Avenue community revitalization projects.
Individual air conditioning units and new energy efficient windows were installed in each unit, plus new carpeting, paint and light fixtures. Kitchen renovations included new cabinets, flooring and appliances, while bathrooms were also updated with new flooring, vanities, light fixtures, and tiled tub enclosures. Common areas were upgraded with new furniture, carpeting, paint and artwork. The updated community room now has a new kitchen and access to a secured outdoor patio area. A computer lab and hair styling salon are among new amenities for the residents. Parikh Stevens Architects provided design expertise in the renovations.
Nearly 200 residents, guests, and dignitaries attended the rededication ceremonies, including representatives from CHFA, US Bank, Apollo Capital, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Aurora, and the AHA Board of Commissioners. Two of the founding AHA Commissioners--Sister Michael Mary Eagan and Mr. Agnar Swanson--were present at the initial dedication 28 years earlier and fondly recalled the original opening of the Fletcher Garden apartments.
Fletcher Gardens was one of six development projects for the AHA in 2006 – a significant achievement noted by AHA Executive Director Preston Prince. These six developments, all of which are public-private partnerships made possible with the allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, comprise 472 units of affordable and sustainable housing in Aurora.
To qualify for an apartment at Fletcher Gardens, applicants must be 62 years or older and earn at or below 50% of the Area Median Income. (In Aurora, the AMI is $25,100 for a single individual.) The majority of Fletcher Gardens residents have incomes below 30% of the AMI. Through rental assistance provided by HUD, residents pay 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent; with the remainder subsidized by HUD.
For information about the financing and renovation of Fletcher Gardens, contact Elizabeth Gundlach Neufeld at 720-251-2075. For information on unit rentals, contact Kristi Smith at 303-343-8490.
Legislative Update
Preston Prince, AHA Executive Director, made two trips recently to Washington, D.C., to meet with Colorado’s Congressional delegation.(read more)
On March 14, he joined several Aurora City Council members in meetings with the Colorado Congressional Delegation to discuss Aurora’s legislative priorities. On March 21, he accompanied three AHA commissioners to meet with the Colorado Delegation to discuss AHA’s housing agenda. “Working closely with our Delegation, we can bring the issues of housing and community development to the forefront and we can create solutions that work for our community,” he said.
In its publication “The Road from Here,” the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) outlines its four legislative priorities for affordable housing.
- Preservation of existing affordable housing inventor
- Production of new affordable housing
- Maintenance of quality communities through the preservation of the CDBG program
- Initiation of program reforms that come from the housing community
NAHRO is a professional membership organization comprised of approximately 20,000 housing and community development agencies and officials throughout the United States who administer a variety of affordable housing and community development programs at the local level.
Private Landlords Provide Affordable Housing for over 1,400 families
Nearly 1,000 private landlords all across Aurora are providing housing for over 1,400 families through the AHA Housing Choice Voucher program and portable voucher program. In most cases, the landlord has only one unit participating in the AHA program This private-public partnership for assisted housing brings over $12.7 million into the Aurora community each year.
The Housing Choice Voucher program, also known as Section 8, is AHA’s largest program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled with decent, safe, and clean housing in the private market. The Housing Choice Voucher is provided directly to the family or individual, and participants then find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. Each family issued a housing voucher is able to choose a suitable housing unit of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program.
AHA pays the housing subsidy directly to the landlord on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.
Eligibility for a housing voucher is based on total annual gross income and family size and is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status.
During the application process, AHA collects information on family income, assets, and family composition. AHA verifies this information with other local agencies, employers and banks, and will use the information to determine program eligibility and the amount of the housing assistance payment.
The Housing Choice Voucher program allows the individual family to consider several housing choices to secure the best housing for their needs. The housing unit selected by the family must meet an acceptable level of health and safety before AHA will approve the unit. Once the voucher holder finds a unit and reaches an agreement with the landlord over the lease terms, AHA must inspect the dwelling and determine that the rent requested is reasonable.
After AHA approves the unit and lease, the tenant signs the lease with the landlord for at least one year. The landlord may require a security deposit. After the first year the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the family to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease. Tenants are expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, pay their share of rent on time, maintain the unit in good condition and notify AHA of any changes in income or family composition.
In 2006, rent subsidies for 1,090 families to private landlords totaled $9,572,210 in Aurora. The average income of families assisted through the Section 8 program is $11,500 per year.
Under the portable voucher program, families may use their benefits anywhere in the United States. In 2006, AHA served 300 families
from other areas, who brought in an additional $3,195,456 to the
City of Aurora.