Affordable housing problem comes to the health beat
A woman stopped into The Wenatchee World office to tell us that she and others who live at 527 N. Chelan Ave. were recently given 30 days to move out. It’s a low income apartment building, and she said she and some of the other residents there struggle to varying degrees with mental illnesses. She’s among those who will have to move, and can’t find anything for the $475 a month she pays now. Apparently the federal Housing and Urban Development pays all but $181 of her rent. She said she gets only $637 a month from the Social Security Insurance, and any higher rent will have to come from that tiny monthly check.
She also said she’s a high-functioning mental health client, now that she’s in recovery, and she mostly feels sorry for some of her less fortunate neighbors who are stressed out about how they will move, and more importantly, where.
Initially, Jan Clay, director of mental health services at Columbia Valley Community Health, said he wasn’t aware of this, and was very concerned about it and would do some checking. Today, he said he couldn’t identify how many of the clinic’s mental health clients will be losing their homes over this, but did say it’s disheartening to lose a resource for people who have a mental illness, and who already have a difficult time finding affordable and safe housing.
One thing is clear: The residents of this apartment building aren’t likely to find enough affordable housing in downtown Wenatchee, close to the services they need, so they’ll also be dealing with transportation issues if, indeed, they do find a new place to live.
As the previous owner of the apartments at 527 N. Chelan, I would like to say that in the last 20 years as an owner of 40+ low income units located in the city of Wenatchee: “There is no help from any City, State or Federal agencies, Private or non- Profit Organizations for the Property Owner. I have operated on a very limited budget to try and maintain the properties and provide the much needed units for the low income clients. Much of the time using my own funds instead of raising rents for the frequent shortages. I have fought with the City at all levels dealing with repairs and problems much of the time caused by tenants. Legal help is provided to non paying tenants, but not to the owner adding more expenses to the fixed monthly budget. I worked with Mental Health and other groups with great success to match housing needs to thier clients. After fighting the city about living conditions, mostly caused by tenants, I decided to sell and move away. I could not provide low rents any longer. I see people blame the new owners because they are not willing to “Subsidize/Lose money” in thier new venture, but the City will be happy with the finished product.
Patrick Wagner, Apple Valley Rentals, (808)741-2349