New special-needs affordable housing doesn’t fix the county’s need

Boone County Special Needs Affordable Housing is celebrating the grand opening of its second apartment development — but this doesn’t solve the lack of housing in the county.

Resident Max Lewis just moved into the new apartment homes, called Boone Point Central. It has a lot more room than his previous home and it is built for his needs — yet it is at an even better price.

“There’s just not the housing to go around, and it’s needed. I think every individual in our country deserves the opportunity – the chance to live independently, in a house or an apartment that they can afford,” Lewis said.

Organizers make it clear there are not enough housing opportunities to fulfill the need.

Officials from the Boone County Family Resources organization say the wait time for one-bedroom affordable apartments is approximately five years.

The new apartment building is progress, but it doesn’t come close to meeting the county’s needs.

However, it offers great benefits. The residents are putting about 70 percent of their income toward rent, which is less than before.

Boone Point Central is a single-story building that has 15 apartment homes: 13 are one-bedroom and the remaining two homes have two bedrooms.