Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Christian Towers property manager Jenny Daugherty's last name. The error has been corrected. (April 1, 2024)
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Efforts are underway to get more aging residents into brand-new affordable housing.
Betty Whitt is a retired federal court stenographer who found a home with Christian Towers in Lexington. She says she’s lived in the independent living community now twice after returning to work. This time she compliments the services at the towers that her mom introduced her to.
“I knew about this place because my mother had lived here when the building first went up,” she explained. Today she’s enjoying her time out of the courtroom and inside Lexington’s low-income housing for seniors.
Whitt says the services for those in the aging community at the property have helped. It recently underwent renovations for its first tower.
“Our windows here used to be so high, you know, and you have to go. I had to get up on all my toes to look out,” Whitt said. “And now I could sit in my chair in the living room and look out on the world. And it’s great.”
Now a second brand new tower with 40-one-bedroom units stands beside hers.
The brand-new tower is unsubsidized for 55 or up and available for those earning between $27,000 and $35,460 a year. The older tower is for those 62 or up and 18 or up with mobility impairments and is subsidized.
Property manager Jenny Daugherty says they are still concerned about getting more people connected to the low-income option.
“I’d like to see more motion in the community with trying to see if we can find the budget to open up the voucher program again and open up the waitlist. There’s a huge need among this demographic,” Daugherty said.
Tower One currently has shared laundry, a fitness center, entertainment and more.
“We have been blessed to have this giant new community space that’s included in the new building. We’ve had a lot of community in the original building, but it’s quite a bit smaller.” Daugherty said about the new space.
Tower Two will introduce a salon along with more space for events and community gatherings.
Daugherty says they have over 100 residents at Christian Towers and 10 new residents at their new apartments.