Wellington Terrace is an established family development, financed in 2010 with $977,300 in HOME funds and $977,300 in Housing Credits administered by AHFA. It is located in Roanoke, a city of 6,000 situated near the Alabama/Georgia border.

We visited Wellington Terrace, in its fifth year of operation, to speak to residents about life in the quiet apartment community.

Frances, a retired grandmother of three, was looking to move from another development where she had experienced trouble with a neighbor. She found Wellington Terrace when it was under construction. "I didn't feel comfortable in my old development anymore," she said. "I put in an application here, and they approved me. I was the first resident to move in."

Another long-time resident, Beulah said, "I was renting a house across town that needed work. I put my application in, and I've been here ever since."

Wellington Terrace is a 36-unit development that features a playground and an office/community building with a gazebo for community activities and events. Each of the one-, two-, and three-bedroom units has a covered porch, outside storage, a full kitchen, and washer/dryer connections.

The HOME and Housing Credit programs provide funding and tax incentives that help developers build properties like Wellington Terrace. The equity generated allows developers to rent units at below market rates.

Frances said, "I had never lived in affordable housing before, but the apartments are real nice. I've enjoyed living here."  Beulah added, "I like the way that my apartment is set up. I like that it has two bathrooms. I'm very satisfied."

In 2000, the Alabama Affordable Housing Association (AAHA) created a scholarship program for residents of member-owned apartment properties in Alabama. The scholarship funds are donated by the owners, contractors, architects, accountants, property management companies, investors, lenders, developers, and various vendors that make up AAHA's membership as well as other non-member individuals. Since its inception, the AAHA resident scholarship fund has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships.

Meet the McDonald brothers of Eagle Pointe in Madison:

Twenty-year-old Khalil received an AAHA resident scholarship for two years before accepting a University of South Alabama football scholarship for his junior year. The Jaguars linebacker said the AAHA scholarship was a huge benefit. "I wasn't on football scholarship for my freshman and sophomore years. I was a walk-on, so most of my funds came out of pocket or loans," said Khalil. "The AAHA scholarship certainly did help."

Younger brother Kyriq, 17, is attending the University of Alabama. Also a football player, he was selected for an AAHA scholarship before receiving a football scholarship. AAHA still chose to recognize him as an honorary resident scholarship recipient for 2017. The Crimson Tide freshman said, "The free education is about getting my degree. I'm majoring in business and ultimately want to pursue mechanical engineering."

The McDonald brothers were encouraged to apply for AAHA resident scholarships by the manager of Eagle Pointe Apartments, the 48-unit affordable housing development in Madison, where they live with their mother.

Khalil offered this sage advice about college to Kyriq and all incoming students, "It's about time management and knowing yourself. If you didn't have that self-control in high school, then you have to adapt and learn as you go. If you don't adapt, you fall behind."

 

For more information about the resident scholarship program, please contact Arrice Faught, AAHA's executive director at arrice@theaaha.org or 205.758.1158.