Articles

ZANESVILLE - Affordable housing officials hope elderly Maple Terrace Apartment residents will be safer with security upgrades provided with a new federal grant.

On Monday, the Zanesville Metropolitan Housing Authority announced at its Pershing Road office it recently received two U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants totaling at $430,682. They are for emergency and safety, and resident opportunities and self-sufficiency.

Most of that will go toward providing new security measures at the 100-unit Maple Terrace High Rise Apartments, which provides affordable housing to the elderly, near-elderly and disabled.

"Because it's exclusively seniors, there are some particular security concerns," ZMHA executive director Steve Randles said at the housing authority's office.

The $250,000 safety grant will go toward a new video monitoring system and additional security lighting in common areas. It will also fund a replacement of the building's antiquated 25-year-old doors.

Randles said those measures will protect the seniors from some recurring issues that happen at the building. The security team cited recent incidents like robbery suspects fleeing through the lobby, or homeless individuals entering and sleeping in a common area.

"We've had a couple instances that could've been really bad," Randles said. "Folks that came in uninvited, who had no reason or purpose for being there. When you introduce that kind of an element ... it doesn't take much to get folks concerned and anxious very quickly."

The security department is currently comprised of two people who cover seven neighborhoods and 674 living units, and law enforcement has previously had to step in to assist.

Deputy director Brenda Beardsley said over the course of the grant-writing process, U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson's office assisted with writing letters and advocating for the HUD grants.

"The elderly, we've got to make sure they're protected and they're OK," said Balderson, who was at the announcement on Monday.  "It's a good resource to have in that vicinity of the community because of the access they have there."

Close proximity to retail and high foot traffic in the Maple Avenue area puts the building at higher risk for activity, according to the housing authority.

The $180,682 for resident opportunity and self-sufficiency is part of a recurring housing authority grant for the last 20 years. It's used to support public housing residents find jobs, pay for work uniforms, job training and other work-preparedness measures.

The safety grant won't just be protecting residents from physical threats, according to Randles: "It's also to provide a level of comfort and security and peace of mind for those folks so they can just enjoy where they live without some of those concerns."

More information about ZMHA housing choice vouchers and related programs can be found on its website.