JPH & Associates is the consultant overseeing DGN Towers III, a 75-unit HUD Section 202 being developed in Pembroke Pines, Florida by Miami Jewish health Systems (MJHS).

On January 24th, 2013, at 3pm, MJHS staff began a lottery drawing for the upcoming 75 new apartment units. Advertised in late December 2012, staff handed out over 1,000 applications of which 678 had been returned by the 2pm cutoff of January 25th.

Staff reported hundreds in attendance for the drawing. Staff utilized the services of a security company to help direct traffic, which was parked curbside all the way to Douglas Road!

This is a major statement regarding the need for low income senior housing. Owner preferences were for persons 62 and older who are paying more than 50% of their income for rent, displaced by government action or government declared disaster. Staff notes that although this is the fifth project for MJHS, they are still astonished by the need. In Florida, for every 15 seniors needing housing, there is one unit in stock. With aging in place, many never make it to affordable housing. Following are some selected pictures of the marketing and lottery activities.

My personal congratulations to the Senior Housing Staff and the “teamwork” that went into this event. Everyone was orderly, though we were crowded. Overflow went into the lounge adjacent to the community room with standing room only. Before the drawing, we encouraged all those present to voice their opinion to Congress individually regarding the need for more low income senor housing. Those sponsored and managed by non-profit, faith based institutions such as ours, are efficient and cost effective use of the taxpayers dollars. After all, these are the persons who helped build our great country. This Phase III building is the last of the capital advance projects built until Congress takes notice of the housing crisis facing our seniors.