COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS ROBINSON PLACE IN LAKEWOOD OPENS 67 AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR UNHOUSED SENIORS AND VETERANS BY ROBERT DAVIS CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS A NEW LOW-RISE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN LAKEWOOD could help some low-income earning seniors find stable housing at a time when high housing costs are forcing a number of elderly people across the metro area onto the streets. The complex, which is called Robinson Place, is located at 2275 Wadsworth Blvd. It was named after Robb Lapp, who helped found the faith-based nonprofit housing developer of the complex, Archway Communities, in 1994. Robinson Place includes a total of 67 affordable units for seniors who earn up to 50% of the area’s median income, or $41,000 annually. Altogether, there are 59 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom units at Robinson Place. Fifteen of the units are also supported by HUD-VASH housing vouchers, a federal program that helps connect homeless military veterans with housing, case management, and wraparound services. The complex also has its own supportive service coordinator for residents who did not serve in the military and is close to multiple bus stops and restaurants to help residents lead an active lifestyle during their golden years. “This work doesn’t stop once someone gets a home,” Lee CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS Bird, one of Archway’s board members, said at the grand opening ceremony on October 5. “You have to care for the whole person after they move in.” Each unit at Robinson Place is furnished with amenities such as a range, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator. The community also includes 24/7 maintenance, on-site laundry, and a community center. According to the Metro Denver CREDIT: ARCHWAY COMMUNITIES Homeless Initiative’s latest Point in Time count, there was a total of 854 people experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County, where Robinson Place is located. People aged 55 and over represent nearly 15% of that total, the data shows. 4 DENVER VOICE November 2023 CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS Across the seven-county metro area, seniors make up about one-in-five people experiencing homelessness on a given night. That figure has stayed roughly the same since 2017, according to the Metro Denver Homeless initiative. But many seniors still face plenty of risks to their housing stability. Some of which include rising home prices and rents, rising interest rates, and stubborn inflation, all of which can eat away at a low-income earning seniors’ monthly budget. Currently, all 67 units at Robinson Place are occupied. However, Archway is still collecting a waitlist for people who are interested. To get on the waitlist, individuals can call Robinson Place at 720-821-3285, or email the property staff at robinsonplace@archwaycommunities.org. ■ CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS CREDIT: ROBERT DAVIS
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