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MRDD looks to secure funds |
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — Board members of the Auglaize County MRDD moved one step closer to providing housing for seven clients at Monday night’s board meeting with the help of more than $200,000 in state funding.
Board members approved a motion that will authorize Superintendent Al Willis to apply for $30,000 from WestCon, a council of government comprised of eight surrounding counties. The money will go toward the down payment of two new houses for adults with developmental disabilities.
The state funds would channel through the Auglaize County MRDD into the Auglaize County Not-For-Profit Housing Board, which would use the funding to purchase two houses located in St. Marys at a cost of $158,753 each.
“This board cannot own housing. The housing board is set up to own housing,” Auglaize County MRDD Board President James Becher said. “It’s more beneficial if we get grants from the state instead of using county money.”
As the housing board cannot apply for funding through the state, the MRDD board applied for the grants.
The two newly constructed homes being built would be handicap accessible.
“The housing board approved to purchase two brand new houses,” Superintendent Al Willis said. “These houses will house three comfortably and allow up to four. We have a person for each house ready to move in.”
The Martin Housing Grant will cover 80 percent of the purchasing price of one house, or $109,912. Another state grant will provide 75 percent of the purchasing price of the second house or $103,043.
If the Auglaize County MRDD receives the $30,000 they request from WestCon, a balance of $74,000 will remain to be financed for both houses. Funding for the housing will come out of the West-con account, not out of the general operating budget, Willis said.
Currently, there are seven houses utilized by adults with developmental disabilities through the Auglaize County Not-For-Profit Housing Board.
“This board is the only board that can apply for this grant,” Willis said.
The MRDD board intends to keep the cost of rent as low as possible so clients on fixed incomes will be able to afford housing. Some funds will also be set aside for maintenance on the properties.
Auglaize County MRDD also approached ARC or Auglaize County Association for Retarded Citizens, to donate funds to the down payment of the houses to help defray the cost of the rent for the clients.
“That’s a way of subsidizing to keep rent low,” Willis said.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 March 2008 )
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