HardinCrest Celebrates 30 Years of Housing Older Adults

KENTON, Ohio [Dec. 19, 2019] – HardinCrest Apartments, a United Church Homes affordable housing community in Kenton, Ohio, celebrated its 30th anniversary Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. The open house included a proclamation from the Office of the Ohio Governor.

HardinCrest offers apartment living for income-qualifying residents age 62 and older, and those physically handicapped or mobility impaired. The independent living community features an onsite service coordinator, who helps connect residents with local resources, and community rooms. Residents gather for holiday potlucks, arts and crafts with Sonya Petty of the Mary Lou Johnson/Hardin County District Library and educational sessions with local home health professionals in programs that enhance resident community life.

Meeting the Needs of the Nation’s Older Adults

The need for affordable housing for older adults is growing rapidly. Those aged 55 and older are living longer and more independently than those generations that came before them. In fact, every day through 2030, 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65. Alongside this expansion, roughly 27 million older adults will be earning less than 80 percent of their area median income by 2035, according to U.S. Census figures.

United Church Homes advocates preservation of existing affordable housing communities, along with an increase in new affordable housing options. In September, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gave instructions for accessing new resources for renovations to project rental assistance (PRAC) properties. Eleven of UCH’s affordable housing communities are 30 years or older, and 14 are 25-29, with close to half of those being PRACs.

First Resident, Manager Reunite

Attendees of Wednesday’s celebration included Ruth Titus, 91, who has lived at HardinCrest since it opened its doors in 1989; the community’s first manager, Rosanna Becker; and its first regional manager, Marsha Crewe, who still serves as regional housing manager throughout central Ohio. Other past staff members and past and current UCH Board of Directors members also celebrated with residents and Kenton area businesses and organizations.

Governor’s Proclamation

Lu Cooke, Northwest Ohio regional liaison for Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, read a proclamation from the lieutenant governor and Gov. Mike DeWine, recognizing HardinCrest for its three decades of service in Kenton.

“On behalf of the state of Ohio, we congratulate you as you celebrate your 30th anniversary. Your commitment and dedication are making a positive difference in this community and the state of Ohio. You’ve made it a better place to live, work and raise a family,” Cooke read from the proclamation.

Cheryl Wickersham, vice president of housing services at Marion-based United Church Homes, told attendees that HardinCrest is one of 61 affordable housing communities United Church Homes owns and manages in 14 states and two Native American nations. The mission-driven organization was recently named the eighth-largest nonprofit, multisite provider of senior living and affordable housing management services in the nation, according to the LeadingAge Ziegler 200 ranking.

United Church Homes serves about 2,800 residents in its affordable housing division, plus about 1,400 in its senior living communities. In Ohio, it operates 12 affordable housing communities for low-income older adults and people with disabilities.

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About United Church Homes: United Church Homes is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior living and affordable housing for older adults, with 75 communities in 14 states and two Native American nations. UCH is a faith-inspired organization that is in covenant with the United Church of Christ and welcomes residents of all faiths.