Supportive Housing
Supportive Housing
LifeWorks’ supportive housing initiatives are one of several ways services are provided to St. Luke's LifeWorks’ program participants. The Colony and Atlantic Park apartments provide 56 efficiency apartments for individuals who have come out of homelessness and other
low-income persons. In addition, Metcalf House provides next step housing for the same population. Rose Park apartments has three two-bedroom apartments for families who are ready to leave our New Beginnings program.
The Connecticut Supportive Housing Demonstration Program was introduced to the State of Connecticut in 1992 as a public/private partnership led by the Corporation for Supportive Housing. In 1993, St. Luke’s LifeWorks was selected to develop 60 units of supportive housing. SLLW made a 15-year commitment as required for participation and mandated by the low income tax credit equity syndication financing.
The Colony Apartments
41 Ludlow Street
In June of l996, construction began on The Colony Apartments that opened in May of 1997. The 29-unit apartment building is designed to provide permanent, affordable supportive housing for individuals with low income as set by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Rents are calculated at 30% of gross income rather than fair market rental rates.
The construction of The Colony Apartments took into consideration that some tenants might be handicapped. Halls are wide, as are all doors, and a roomy elevator carries clients to one of three upper floors. Bathrooms include handrails and doors have lever style handles instead of round doorknobs. The entry is bright and inviting with offices on one side and a community room on the other that serves as a place to gather to watch movies, celebrate birthdays and high school or college graduations. A side patio offers the opportunity for cookouts.
Since most residents have few personal belongings and may have some difficulty with daily living skills, simplicity and efficiency were the primary concerns. The apartments are also located only a few blocks from the train station and on a major bus route to facilitate transportation of tenants to work and other appointments. Apartments feature walk-in closets, hardwood oak floors, tile bathrooms, fully-equipped kitchens, and come fully furnished with table, chairs, bed, dresser, night stands, and lamps from This End Up. A receptionist and keyed entry into the building help provide security for tenants.
The Atlantic Park Apartments began as two separate multi-family buildings that were listed on the National Historic Registry as “contributing” to the South Stamford Historical District. Suffering from years of abuse and neglect, the plan was to gut, reconfigure, and join the two buildings to create the Atlantic Park Apartments that would consist of 27 furnished studio apartments for single adults.
As an historic rehab, many of the original trims, moldings, and other architectural features were retained or restored. Changes to the building's façade had to conform to the requirements established for historical building restoration. Each apartment is 400 to 450 square feet and retains some unique feature of the original building. The space between the two buildings is now a bright and airy reception area where the security desk is located and is accessible from the street and the back parking lot. A sitting area near the mailboxes, along with a community room and a meeting room encourage interaction among tenants.
While several apartments are specifically designed for handicap use, each apartment can easily be converted for anyone who is handicapped, with wide doors and railings in the tub/shower area. Apartments feature walk-in closets, hardwood oak floors, tile bathrooms, fully-equipped kitchens, and come fully furnished with table, chairs, bed, dresser, night stands, and lamps from This End Up.
Metcalf House
Forest Street
Stamford, CT
In 2002, the agency undertook the management of Metcalf House, a property owned by the Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford. This property provides 10 single rooms for individual adults who are coming out of homelessness.
Rose Park Apartments
Rose Park Avenue
Stamford, CT
Regional Efforts
On a regional basis, our agency’s commitment to developing 350 units of affordable supportive housing statewide currently involves partnership with the following organizations under the umbrella of Fairfield 08:
Reaching Home
LifeWorks has also taken an active role in the statewide development of 10,000 units of supportive housing through the Reaching Home Campaign.
Contact Information:
Maggie Manda, Permanent Supportive Housing Program Manager MManda@stlukeslifeworks.org
141 Franklin Street Stamford, Connecticut 06901 (203) 388-0100
The Atlantic Park Apartments
660 Atlantic Street
Stamford, CT
In 2007, the agency completed conversion of 28 Rose Park Avenue into family supportive housing. Families from our New Beginnings program transition into Rose Park Apartments where there are three-two bedroom apartments.
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