The Ypsilanti Housing Commission unveiled 86 apartments and townhouses today. The units were built for affordable housing.
"Oh, my God. I've just been crying, crying. I'm so blessed."
But they're tears of joy. Terry Wells is thrilled to have a townhouse at the New Parkridge affordable housing community in Ypsilanti. She attended a ribbon cutting for the nearly $18 million project that was built on the former site of the Parkridge public housing complex. Single mom Tiffany LeBlanc is another tenant.
"Both of my kids are autistic. So now that I'm here, I'm able to be home full-time with them and be able to focus on their therapy and everything."
The development also features a community building where resources for health care and education are available. Marquan Jackson, Director of The Family Empowerment Program at Eastern Michigan University, will assist with that.
"We also help with financial literacy courses. If there are barriers preventing residents from seeking employment, we also connect them to resources at Michigan Works."
About 90% of the units are already occupied. The rest, are expected to be assigned to individuals on a waiting list later this month.
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu
