KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A new affordable senior housing community is opening its doors in the Buenaventura Lakes area of Kissimmee.
“That’s something needed around here,” Luendy Melo, a Kissimmee resident, said.
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Melo says she’s seen firsthand how isolating aging can be without the right support system.
“I know a couple like seniors myself that I used to live with and they’re like, children would like, pay for the housing, but then they would just be living by themselves. I think it’s important that they have like a community,” Melo said.
Buen Vecino, the latest affordable housing complex in Osceola County, was developed by the Osceola Council on Aging in partnership with Osceola County and federal, state and local partners. The community provides 60 affordable apartments for residents age 62 and older, offering safe, stable and accessible housing.
Supported in part by a $5.2 million investment from Osceola County, the project was made possible through a collaborative partnership among the Osceola Council on Aging, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Spectrum.
The site’s location in Buenaventura Lakes was intentional, placing seniors close to the services and amenities they rely on most.
“There’s plenty of doctors nearby, like the hospital by the, the Walmart, a couple clinics nearby, and everything’s kind of walkable,” Melo said.
Apartments are available to one-person households earning up to $40,250 annually, or two-person households with a combined income of up to $46,000.
The community features modern amenities including in-unit washers and dryers, a clubhouse, walking trails, supportive services and a Digital Learning Lab designed to help residents build digital skills and stay connected.
During the grand opening ceremony, Spectrum will present a $15,000 grant to the Osceola Council on Aging to support the Digital Learning Lab as part of the company’s Beyond the Build Tour in Florida.
For neighbor Juan Diaz, the need for affordable options for seniors couldn’t be clearer.
“It’s very important because a lot of seniors are looking for living spaces. And sometimes they’re paying high rent. And so they need places. So, to be able to, that they could afford,” Diaz said.
Melo agrees the complex will make a real difference.
“I think it’s going to help a lot of people in the community,” she said.