Hillcrest announces completion of universal design apartment

Hillcrest Transitional Housing. Photo by Nadia Thacker — Hillcrest Transitional Housing.

Hillcrest Transitional Housing announced the completion of a Universal Design Apartment Thursday through a partnership with Blue Skies Home Care LLC and Habitat for Humanity.

Hillcrest provides a disciplined program for the homeless of this community, but some of those individuals have barriers that would have prevented them from living comfortably in one of the apartments. There was a need for an ADA-accessible apartment and Blue Skies Home Care LLC and Habitat for Humanity stepped in.

Habitat for Humanity spent several hours installing wider doors, an accessible pathway, lower counters and cabinets, an in-unit washer and dryer, a roll-in shower and many other features that make this apartment functional for everyone who lives there. Hope United Church of Christ in Cosby helped purchase items to decorate the apartment and stock the pantry to prepare for the first resident.

Anne Davies-Speer, Public Relations and Outreach Specialist from Blue Skies Home Care LLC said the initial idea started when she did a year of service as an AmeriCorps Vista with Hillcrest.

“You can have an idea, a vision and a dream,” Davies-Speer said. “But it takes a group effort of visionaries to make it a reality.”

Hillcrest will celebrate the completed apartment renovation with a Grand Opening Ceremony on February 9, 2016 at 10:00AM at the Hilllcrest apartments located at 3000 Parkway A.

“Before, we did not have an apartment that could house a resident that had any kind of disability,” said Shannen White, Affiliate Director of Hillcrest Transitional Housing of Buchanan County. “Now we are able to help a whole new population in our community. Thanks to the passion and support of Blue Skies Home Care LLC and Habitat for Humanity, we are able to help more individuals and families overcome their burdens and reach self-sufficiency again.”

There are interviews being done now for the first resident to be able to use this apartment. Hillcrest intends to use the apartment for all families however; it will be available first to potential residents with specific needs.