Seniors Receive Assistance Amid Steep Rent Increases at Wedington Place
Seniors impacted by recent rent increases at Wedington Place Senior Apartments in Fayetteville have received assistance. The residents, many of whom are low-income and/or disabled, were facing significant rate hikes after the property was taken over by a new out-of-state management company, Ace Telluride-AR LLC, which purchased the property for .2 million in July.
The rent increases have been particularly burdensome for the residents, with single-unit apartments going from 0 to 0 and two-bedroom units rising from 0 to ,150. While some tenants have vouchers from Housing and Urban Development or Veterans Affairs, more than half pay out of pocket. This increase has left many struggling to make ends meet, with some fearing they may need to choose between food and rent.
In response, a meeting was organized, including input from Fayetteville city officials, state Sen. Greg Leding, and several community resource and advocacy groups. The discussion aimed to provide an outlet for questions and potential solutions to support the affected residents. Furthermore, city officials have acknowledged the need for more affordable housing options in Fayetteville, highlighting the importance of senior housing in the city’s 2040 plan.
Residents like Deborah George, who has lived at Wedington Place for nearly five years, emphasized the difficulties of finding alternative affordable housing that meets the needs of seniors, especially those with disabilities. The housing crisis in Fayetteville has sparked a housing task force, which is working to address these issues and prioritize affordable housing options for seniors in the future.
The crisis has brought attention to the need for more attainable housing in Fayetteville. Housing advocates like Billy Cook from Arkansas Renters United emphasize that policy changes are necessary to address the root causes of unaffordable housing and steep rent increases.
- Situations like Wedington Place serve as a reminder that housing crises can have severe impacts on vulnerable communities, particularly seniors living on fixed incomes.
