Housing Complex Takes on a New Life

Tower One/Tower East, a housing community in New Haven, has begun an extensive renovation to create 60 new assisted-living apartments. Tower One is the first in the State of Connecticut to participate in HUD's Assisted Living Conversion Program. The Program is designed to create alternatives to costly nursing homes and permit seniors to continue to live in their apartments.

Renovations require gutting 6 floors of the 21-story building. HUD's grant also includes monies for the conversion of a 6,000 square foot area on the first floor for resident services and activities, assisted living services, health clinic, computer learning center, and administrative offices. The dining room and main entrance will also be renovated in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements.

Assisted living is for adults 62 and older who do not require the level of care furnished by nursing homes but need help with activities such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, housekeeping, managing medication, and other similar day-to-day tasks.

Tower One has Section 8 rental assistance available for 92 of its 205 apartments. Residents in the other apartments pay market rent. All of Tower East's 150 apartments have Section 8 rental assistance. Qualifying Section 8 residents pay 30% of their adjusted income for rent.

Applications for the new assisted living units are currently being accepted. For information, please call (203) 772-1816.