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September
18, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 16Oakland,
CA
St. Columba
Parish opens another
senior housing complex
The St. Columba
Development Corporation, a ministry of St. Columba parish, has opened
a new set of apartments for low-income seniors. Bishop Allen Vigneron
was on hand to bless the Percy Abram Jr. Senior Apartments in a special
ceremony held Aug. 17.
The new four-story complex is co-owned by Christian Church Homes of Northern
California and was funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
grant, a Federal Home Loan Grant and the City of Oakland. It is located
at 1094 Alcatraz Street, immediately adjacent to Sister Thea Bowman Manor,
a senior complex opened by the St. Columba Development group in 1990.
The complex consists of 44 one-bedroom units and features a large multipurpose
room, a garden, hand rails, an on-site laundry room, a 24-hour emergency
call service, and control entry access.
The apartments are open to anyone 62 years of age or older who can maintain
independent living with or without assistance, and who meets very low
income annual income as defined by HUD -- less than $29,000 for one person
and $$33,100 for two persons. Monthly rents do not exceed 30 percent of
tenants’ incomes.
The complex is named for Percy Abrams Jr., a business executive who served
on the board of the St. Columba Development Corporation and died in 2001.
Father Jayson Landeza, pastor, said the complex has already reached full
occupancy and there is a long waiting list. Those two factors, he said,
are indicative of the ongoing desperate need for affordable housing in
the East Bay.
“We, the Church, continue to be challenged in our search for available
property. I would really encourage other parishes to consider the need
for housing as one of their missions.”
Sandra Abrams, widow of Percy Abrams, Jr., cuts
the ribbon opening the new apartment complex named for her late husband.
Their daughters are to her right. Joining in the festivities are Bishop
Allen Vigneron (far right) and Father Jayson Landeza, pastor of St. Columba
Parish.
