Yesterday, the first 15 tenants moved into the 15 story Morris Avenue Apartments affordable housing development in Melrose—all homeless veterans with a new lease in life and just in time for the holidays.
Of the 176 units in the building, an impressive 20%, or 35 units, were set aside for homeless individuals and families of which 18 of those units went to homeless veterans. The remainder of the units went to low and middle income individuals and families with a preference for those who live within the area’s Community Board 1, and NYPD, MTA, and other city employees.
We all know that there is a homelessness crisis in NYC and especially The Bronx where many are just 1 paycheck away from becoming homeless.
The apartments are decent in size and all come with separate climate control units for “central” heating and cooling for each bedroom and main living area providing warmth in the winter and cool AC in during the hot summers.
Oh and each apartment comes with a dishwasher and bamboo hardwood flooring.
The lucky 176 individuals and families are paying rents ranging from $788 for studios to $1,638 for 3 bedrooms with qualifying incomes from $28,555 for 1 low income individual to $105,100 for a middle income family of 6.
Sadly, this means that the majority of residents living within the neighborhood do not qualify for such developments as many are far below the required income for these affordable units which always leaves the question in many’s mind, “Affordable for who?”
At any rate, hundreds of families will now have an affordable place to call home as well as 35 who are homeless no more.
