Housing

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Fremont Housing Authority

Fremont Housing Authority has been in existence since 1972. The housing authority is governed by a board of commissioners comprised of area business men and women interested in providing decent, safe and sanitary housing to benefit low- to moderate-income elderly, disabled and handicapped persons and small families. Current board members are: Don Gifford, Gene Martin, Darlene Saeger, Skip Sawyer, Stanford Darling and Rod Daake. Applications are being taken for the resident commissioner position. Commissioner appointments are decided by the city council and made by the mayor for a staggered five-year term. The board of commissioners meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Fremont Housing Authority office located at 2510 N. Clarkson St. Sue Kleider serves as executive director. She has 16 years experience in public housing management.

Fremont Housing Authority offers 251 1-bedroom apartments for the elderly, handicapped, disabled and small families at Gifford Tower, a 12 story high-rise apartment complex, located at 2510 N. Clarkson St. and Stanton Tower, an 11 story high-rise designated for elderly 62 and older, at 2600 N. Clarkson St.; 133 family vouchers through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and management of 64 units through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Affordable Housing Program for seniors 62 and older.

Both Gifford and Stanton Towers operate under the rules and regulation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Fremont Housing Authority is scored through HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) in the areas of financial management, property management, Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspections and resident satisfaction. The housing authority has been classified as a high performer for the fiscal year 2005. The housing authority qualifies for the Capital Fund Program in which tenants, board of commissioners and the executive director are involved and working together to produce an annual and five-year agency plan for modernization and management purposes.

Renovation of apartments, facilities and mechanical systems continue with funding from the HUD Capital Funds Program. Recently renovations to kitchens with new cabinets, countertops, flooring and new appliances along with renovations of apartments to handicapped rehab units. Both buildings also received renovations to commons areas and apartments with new carpeting, appliances, window treatments and painting.

The Fremont Housing Authority has an open wait list and continues to take applications for all programs. Call 727-4848, for more information.

Habitat for Humanity

Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity volunteers have built nearly 50 homes with low-income families in the Fremont area. The local organization — which began in 1993 — plans to build five more homes this year.

The international Habitat program builds homes with partner families and provides families with interest-free mortgages. A selection committee selects partner families based on established criteria. The homes are built with donations of labor, funds and materials. Karen Melang is executive director of the Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity Affiliate, P.O. Box 932; 721-8771. The office is located at 605 N. Broad St. E-mail: habitatfre@aol.com.

Jefferson House

Jefferson House, an emergency youth shelter located at 437 N. Jefferson Road, has helped more than 900 children since it’s opening in southwest Fremont on Feb. 1, 1999.

The four-bedroom shelter is licensed to house up to 12 children from infants to age 18 for up to 30 days. It gives child protective service workers a chance to locate a more permanent place, such as foster homes or a relative with whom the child can live.

The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day with operations overseen by a volunteer board of directors.

Jefferson House is expanding its current facility to provide better service to the children.

Care Corps Shelter

Fremont’s Care Corps homeless shelter has moved into its new facility. Care Corps operates 24 hours a day in downtown at 723 N. Broad St. The shelter has a dayroom, kitchen, staff offices and rooms for individuals and families.

Care Corps Homeless Services’ program is designed to address the underlying causes of homelessness so children and families in the greater Fremont area can live healthy lives.

The shelter depends heavily on volunteers and private donations. Tammy Evans is executive director. For more information, call 721-3125, or visit their Web site, www.carecorpshomelessservices.org.