Housing for People Living With HIV/AIDS

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AIDS HELP (AHI), in partnership with the City of Key West and the Key West Housing Authority, have just completed the contruction of 50-units of affordable housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. The City agreed to transfer ownership of 1.25 acres of land at Poinciana Plaza to the Key West Housing Authority that was leased by AHI. With a structured lease AHI was able to enter into a Tax Credit relationship through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC), which funded the construction of the Poinciana Royale housing complex of up to 50-independent living units.

On February 20, 2008 the Key West City Commission appropriated an amount of $40,000 as a local contribution that qualified AHI as an applicant for the 2008 Universal Cycle through the FHFC. The highly competitive Universal Cycle process was completed in September of 2008 with the AHI application attaining a perfect score opening the way for a possible award of $11,000,000 in Tax Credit funding. If funded project construction would be completed by December 2010.

In addition to the 50 one bedroom units, the Poinciana Royale complex provides space for a facilities manager, a community room with kitchen, a library and greeting lobby, case manager's office, and a small exercise room.

AIDS Help built 14 new independent living units on property owned by the agency in Key West, Florida. The construction project consisted of three two-story structures with 14 new units approximately 600 square feet in size. The entire project will cost $1.35 million dollars.

The Seebol Place Project was funded through grants from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and through an Angel Program that provided an opportunity for friends and supporters to contribute to the project.

Housing First Program, opened in August 2009

At the center of the AHI housing efforts is the new 14-unit Seebol Place facility completed in mid-August, 2009. Seebol Place is a "housing first" program designed for people with AIDS who are homeless. The program is meant to house people first and then provide all the support services to take care of their other problems. Residents are screened and assessed to determine if there are substance abuse issues and then enrolled into an intensive life skills program. The three goals of the program are for the resident to maintain long-term housing,improve their health, and become fully integrated into the community.

Residents and AHI staff develop a housing plan of care that includes life skills counseling and educational sessions and sign a 30-day housing program agreement. The resident commits themselves to the intensive skills program for a period of 30 days, after which they revise the plan until they complete the full 90-day program.

Seebol Place partners include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Florida Department of Children and There has been a lot of excitement, and a lot of questions, concerning AIDS housing projects during 2009! There is a lot to be excited about. Seebol Place Families, the Southernmost Homeless Assistance League, Inc. (SHAL), the Sheriff's Asset Forfeiture Fund, and the Monroe County SHIP Office.

The Tri-Plex was built in the late 1990's with the award of $202,000 through a Section 811 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) The Tri-Plex building was built on property carved from the original Marty's Place complex and houses three new one-bedroom units, which HUD continues to support with Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) funding. As a HUD-Section 811 project the "Old-Tri-Plex" is governed by a separate corporation AHI Real Estate Properties, Inc. whose officers and directors are the same as those of AIDS Help.

With a $269,000 grant from the Monroe County SHIP Program, AIDS Help was able to construct the New Tri-Plex building in 2006. An additional $120,000 in local contributions was raised to complete the project. The three independent living units are the first modular units built and utilized by the agency for client housing.

The units are located on a piece of vacant property at Marty's Place that was the site of the old laundry building that it was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in October of 2005. All three units are one-bedroom and are equipped with kitchens a kitchen, dining area, living room, bath, and bedroom. The New Tri-Plex was elevated one foot above Base Flood Elevation as required by local code.

Marty's Place is an independent living environment located on a ¾ acre property in Key West was the first housing facility purchased by AIDS Help. When acquired in the late 1980's through a $795,000 mortgaged-financed plan supported by private contributions and pledges. At one dinner party attended by 50 local people, hosted by the Marquesa Restaurant, and sponsored by Broadway's Jerry Herman, over $600,000 was raised to finance the purchase Marty's Place and other capital expansion. At the time, the property had eight cottages buildings - seven one-bedroom units and one two bedroom unit.

In the mid-1990's locally raised dollars were also used to cover the construction costs of a two-unit structure duplex at the Marty's Place housing complex, increasing the number of buildings on site to ten and increasing the number of one bedroom units to nine.

Many of the buildings were renovated in 2001 with a $50,000 State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP) grant through the Monroe County Housing Authority.

The Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) provided $60,000 in Weatherization funding in 2004 to upgrade HVAC systems and insulate six buildings/units at the housing compound.

In 2006, AIDS Help, utilizing $269,000 in local contributions and $120,000 in SHIP funding through the Key West Housing Authority, was able to construct a second Tri-Plex at Marty's Place, which has three one-bedroom units that are elevated above the flood plain. Another unit on site completely destroyed during Hurricane Wilma (October 2005) was elevated and completely restored with funding from Volunteer Florida, Inc. and the Home Depot Corporation at a cost of $74,000.

In 2008, AHI began rehabilitation of six units that were seriously damaged and flooded during Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. The $555,000 project included lifting all six units approximately three feet to mitigate future flooding. Funds for the rehabilitation and mitigation came from the Monroe County SHIP office.

Harvey House is an independent living environment with eleven units on a ½ acre plot in Key West. Acquired in 1994 through a Barnett Bank bridge-financing plan, which was retired once a HUD Section 811 fund reserve for $941,600 reached closure in mid-1997.

An additional $150,000 was raised as part of a challenge grant from the Helmerich Foundation, which covered renovation costs to the property. The name Harvey House was chosen by a major contributor whose mother starred in the movie "Harvey". Three buildings with nine one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit, and an entirely reconstructed one-bedroom cottage, provide eleven units/twelve bedrooms. The exterior of all structures at the complex were painted in 2006. Unit #7 was rehabilitated in 2007 with new flooring throughout.

Because Harvey House operates as a HUD-Section 811 property it is governed by A.H.I. Housing, Inc. a special corporation whose officers and directors are the same as those of AIDS Help.

McCarthy-Rogers Residence is named in honor of AIDS Help's co-founder Albert H. McCarthy and President Emeritus Carol L. Rogers. The property was acquired and renovated with a $511,600 HUD Section 811 grant in 1997-98. The housing complex consists of one two-story wood frame structure, and one one-story wood structure on approximately a quarter acre in Key West, Florida. The buildings contain one (1) three-bedroom unit, two (2) two-bedroom units, and two (2) one-bedroom units.

AIDS Help was required to establish a special housing group for this property, which is known as the 1213 William Street Corporation. The officers and directors of the corporation are the same as those of AIDS Help, Inc. The units are HUD Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) units. The exterior of McCarthy-Rogers Residence was painted in 2005-2006. The last survey of the property was April 02, 1997.

As with all HUD Section 811 properties there is no real rental annuity derived from the McCarthy-Rogers residence since rent payments are reserved for HUD, however, a portion of rental income can be used to operate and maintain the property in safe, decent and affordable manner.