A new three-story apartment building in Bethesda will open its doors this month to 12 formerly homeless adults. Owned and operated by Montgomery County’s Housing Opportunities Commission, the “permanent supportive housing” facility will be at 4913 Hampden Lane — between Woodmont Avenue and Arlington Road in downtown Bethesda — and will house six studio and six one-bedroom apartments.
The project received $1 million in federal stimulus money, as well as $944,829 from the Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs and $2.1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the state.
Neighboring businesses and residents in the pricey Bethesda neighborhood say they don’t mind the formerly homeless moving in next door as long as they don’t cause problems.
Kevin Doran, who lives on Montgomery Lane behind the new housing facility, said he is OK with his new neighbors “as long as they’re contributing to the area.” He said he understands that some of the residents may have just fallen victim to bad luck.
Still, he said, he doesn’t want to share the neighborhood with drug users.
Mary Solloway, who works at neighboring boutique Bella Italia, said that given the possibility that the residents will be recovering from various addictions, it is “interesting” that the facility is across the street from a liquor store. Still, she said, she doesn’t have a problem with the facility itself.
“I don’t think I have anything to worry about,” said Deborah Simon, who owns The Waygoose Redux boutique across the street from the new facility. She emphasized that the facility will be “monitored well.”
There are currently 1,132 homeless people in Montgomery County, 6.4 percent more than last year.
The building features a community room, fitness center, computer center, laundry facility, outdoor enclosed courtyard and storage space for the tenants.
A counselor will work with residents weekdays, according to HOC spokeswoman Tedi Osias, as well as offer seminars and workshops to help them acquire and maintain jobs.
Residents in the “housing first” program may require help getting medical care, finding jobs or going back to school, said Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless Director of Development and Communications Diane Aten.
Aten pointed to Cordell Place, a similar facility in downtown Bethesda that houses 32 single adults. At Cordell Place, most residents have a long history of homelessness and require ongoing support from the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless.
The Hampden Lane facility will be a “stepping stone,” said resident Angie Burke.
“Anybody could be homeless,” she said. “Everybody deserves a second chance.”
