By Catherine Roberts
Tulsa, Okla. – The Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless will be conducting an informational session tonight at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall about its proposed permanent supportive housing facility, Hudson Villas.
The new building will include 60 apartments with common dining and living areas as well as laundry, exercise and computer labs. Construction is expected to begin in four to six months.
"This is designed for folks who have been homeless, who need just some extra support, perhaps they don't have family, they don't have the safety net that so many of us depend on when we're living independently and have friends to call on," said Day Center Executive Director Sandra Lewis.
Staff will be on hand to provide the support tenants may lack, including case management as well as assistance with managing disabilities or illness.
Rent will be income-based, and applicants must undergo a background check. No sex or violent offenders will live at Hudson Villas.
"It is permanent housing, so someone could stay in the apartment building as long as they wanted to," Lewis said.
Tenants will have the opportunity to learn about the aspects of living independently, with classes on budgeting, paying bills and cooking, as well as living in a neighborhood.
She expects that living in Hudson Villas will provide people with the confidence to live in regular apartments. She also says that it will provide an overall benefit to the community.
"There are studies that show once people go into housing, that all of those burdens to the community drop, because now they're living independently," she said.
Tonight's meeting will take place in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, at 2nd Street and Cincinnati Avenue. Future neighbors of Hudson Villas with concerns about the effect of the facility on the neighborhood are especially encouraged to attend, Lewis said.