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BROOKS QUARRY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY & DISABLED
The Brookfield Housing Authority
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The Brookfield Connecticut Community Network "The Voice Of Brookfield" |
| Brookfield Seniors | Online Resources for Seniors | |
| CT Home Care Agencies | Housing Options |
Brooks Quarry is the name of the 35 unit development located in the Iron Works District of Brookfield, Connecticut. Early deeds to this property described the land of Chief Pokono, who for many years ruled in this area. Our facility lies on a limestone vein, and was a lime quarry in full operation beginning about two hundred years ago, and ceasing in 1909 or 1910. The kiln was situated immediately across the street from us, and the brook that runs through our property, is named Lime Kiln Brook. It is now Home for those Elderly and/or Disabled people who are capable of independent living, and who have met State mandated entrance requirements.
The Housing Authority of the Town of Brookfield is a duly authorized and acting Public Body having been created pursuant to the Connecticut Statutes. The Housing Authority owns the property, and has life use of the buildings on the property. Both forms of ownership will continue as long as the land and buildings are used for the purpose of providing housing for the elderly and the disabled. As will be discussed in more detail, the Housing Authority has an Assistance Agreement with the State of Connecticut, and a cooperation Agreement with the Town of Brookfield. It is the Housing Authority's responsibility to maintain the facility in accordance to Standards developed by the Connecticut Legislature, and the State department of Housing. The Authority is governed by a Board of Commissioners, made up of volunteers from the Town of Brookfield. The day to day operation is managed by an Executive Director and his/her staff. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Commissioners, and is paid.
The MISSION STATEMENT of the Brookfield Housing Authority is to foster a safe, and healthy independent living community setting that respects the rights and dignity of each individual. This shall be done by:
- Making responsible financial decisions. - Providing lines of communication that encourage individual responses; keeping in mind the protection of the rights and dignity of others. - Making sure that the complex is maintained and developed with the safety and health of the residents being the primary concern. - Fully supporting community projects centered around the welfare of others. - Arranging various social events to entertain and encourage participation with other tenants.
A group of concerned Brookfield citizens; working with Town Officials, Housing Agencies across the State, and the State Department of Housing devoted themselves to the creation of establishing a Housing Project for the Elderly.
In November 1981, the group formally became the Brookfield Housing Authority, and signed an assistance agreement with the State of Connecticut and a cooperation agreement with the Town of Brookfield.
The Town donated the approximately (21) acres of land on which the development now sits.
The Town extended a low interest loan to the Housing Authority so that the Authority could initiate those actions necessary to bring the Housing project to fruition. The loan has since been paid back in full.
A grant of approximately one million dollars was awarded to the Housing Authority so that the nine units, housing thirty-five (35) individual apartments, and a community center could be built.
The completed facility was open to the general public in 1983.
Over the next (13) years we have received three grants totaling $250,000.00 from the State of Connecticut that were all used to make necessary additions, or improvements to the property.
Today the total assets of the Housing Authority have reached approximately two million dollars. We have no outstanding liabilities. We have no source of revenue or line of credit, other than the rent paid by each of our residents. By law, our operating budget can not exceed our revenue source (rent). Additionally, we are obligated to build up, and maintain a cash reserve great enough to support any emergency capital expenditures.
We have (27) efficiency apartments, each with an area of 450 square feet, and (4) two room apartments and (4) handicapped apartments, each 522 square feet in area. The Housing Authority is charged with the responsibility of maintaining each apartment. You can liken this relationship to a condominium association, except that the maintenance agreement includes the interior of each apartment.
Our maintenance policy is designed to find and correct problems before they become major issues. To achieve this, we conduct yearly inspections of each apartment, paint on a regular cycle, and replace appliances and fixtures on their average life expectancy rather than on failure.
Our Maintenance Director lives in the Community. We have emergency on-call partnerships with local licensed professionals.
Each month the management staff meets with the tenants to discuss the wants and needs of the residents. A summary of that meeting is sent to each resident, and to each member of the Board of Commissioners.
Each month we publish a Newsletter whose intent it is to keep all residents, sponsors, friends, and Town officials current with what is happening within the community.
Each month the Board of Commissioners meets to review the Financial Statement, old and new business, outstanding State requirements, all issues effecting the Authority, and any new initiatives. The Board of Commissioners sets the goals and objectives for the current year at our well attended annual meeting.
Each month, the Executive Director, reports to, and discusses the operation with the members of the Brookfield Commission on Aging.
By accepting the Grant from the State of Connecticut, the Housing Authority agreed to abide by all the terms and conditions mandated by the State Department of Housing, and Law passed by the State Legislature. In brief, the State tells us how much rent we can collect, how we must maintain the facility, who we must allow the facility to be open to, what administrative procedures we must follow, and what accounting system we must use. The State formally audits us every two years, makes random spot visits at our facility, and expects formal reports at least four times each year.
This same assistance agreement allows us to utilize their expertise in the areas of Financial, Administrative, and Technical Services. They respond to our needs via the phone, by mail and in person. They are available to teach, as well as extensively auditing and making alterations to any phase of our operating procedures that need adjustment. Equally important, it allows us to apply for available Grant moneys. We pay, from our operating budget, up to $6,000.00 per year to the State in Management Fees.
The Cooperation Agreement we have with the Town of Brookfield, frees us from paying property taxes. The Town provides Fire, Paramedic and Police protection. The town maintains our road as well as our parking area. The town Social Service Director is always there to help our residents. Like any other resident, we do pay a service charge to use the sewer system. Unofficially, we enjoy an excellent relationship with the First Selectman and his staff. On many occasions, they share their office supplies and equipment with us.
Residency requirements are a function of age, income, or disability. Sometime in the near future we will be adding financial and criminal background checks to our entrance requirements. The Law allows it, and the safety and well being of our future residents require that we do it.
Residents pay rent based on their income less a percentage of their unreimbursed medical expenses, and an allowance for utilities. In the most general terms; we say that the rent is structured such that a resident pays up to 30% of their disposable income. A small cable vision surcharge is added to the rent. While the assets a person owns are not part of the equation, the interest those assets earn are. Rent may be increased or decreased from year to year, based on changes in either medical expenses or income, but always using the same formula. A resident may have his or her rent changed during the year, if their income or medical expenses change by ten per-cent.
In addition to their rent, a resident will also pay their utility costs (telephone and electric), cable television above the basic services, and renter's personal property insurance.
Today, close to 90% of our residents have ties to Brookfield, either as past home owners, or as parents of current home owners. It is the latter, that gives us the greatest pleasure. To know that many of our neighbors entrust the Housing Authority to help care for their parents is quite an honor.
New residents are taken in chronological order from a waiting list of people who have been previously screened. At times, our waiting list is quite lengthy, and the wait is lengthy. However; every day we talk to someone who wished that they had signed up, years earlier.
Priority is given to a widowed spouse who already resides in our community to move into an efficiency apartment (thereby opening up a couples apartment).
In addition to individual apartments, there is a community room and laundry area central to all apartments. With advanced notice, the community room may be used by the residents for private parties.
Mail is delivered to the Mail Room central to all apartments.
While there are restrictions on what a resident may do to their apartment, we encourage our residents to treat their apartment as they would their own home.
A good percentage of our residents have their own pets.
We encourage our residents to plant gardens along the parameter of their apartment.
We have, and will continue to add, gardens that are visible to all of our residents. It is one of our long term objectives to make Brooks Quarry as "Park" like as is practical.
The HART Bus service has two regular stops at Brooks Quarry, and additional stops will be made by request.
The Sweet Hart Bus Service is also available to our residents.
In addition to their own families, some of our residents are dependent on the fine services provided by:
Meals-on-Wheels - We CAHR - Catholic Services - The Town Social Director - The housekeepers and nurses who seem to care more than their paycheck would warrant - The Social Service Department of the State of Connecticut
Many organizations care enough for us to give us parties, picnics, entertainment and gifts.
- The Rotary Club - Saint Joseph Youth Group - Community Action Group of Local AARP Chapter #576 - The Brookfield Garden Club - Girl Scout Troop 742 - Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys Church
On the other hand, we are not strictly a drain on other people's time and energy. Our residents give much back to the community. We have people associated with the Senior Citizen Center, AARP Chapter #576, the United Way and several individual charitable organizations.
We take pride in our relationship with Brookfield Suppliers and Services. Over 95% of our non fixed expenditures are paid out to Brookfield people, and/or businesses
We are certainly not without our problems. The transition between home ownership and community living is not easy. An inordinate amount of time and expense is expended by the management staff on administrative responsibilities. Our budget does not allow us to make many of the capital improvements, or hold social events and/or activities that we desire. Our ability to understand or predict the wants and needs of our residents is ever changing and severely limited.
HOWEVER, MANY FINE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY WHAT IT IS TODAY AND THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT STAFF IS COMMITTED TO BUILD ON THAT WORK TO NOT ONLY MAKE BROOKS QUARRY A MORE WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, BUT ALSO A PLACE FOR THE TOWN TO TAKE SPECIAL PRIDE IN!
We hold membership in the following organizations: - The National Arbor Day Foundation - The Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials