Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992                   TAG: 9203110228
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MELANIE S. HATTER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

LOW INCOME HOUSING ADEQUATE, RADFORD SAYS

Willow Woods Apartments has applied to the federal government to convert 40 of its 144 units to subsidized housing. Council passed a resolution Monday night opposing it.

The resolution says Radford has 424 low-income housing units, or 15.6 percent of the city's total rental units, which "more than adequately meets the current and expected need for such housing within the city."

Some managers of low-income housing have a different view.

"Because of the economy people are losing jobs and even losing homes. Where else can they go to?" asked Paula Olinger, manager of Riverbend Apartments, which has 60 subsidized units that are full year round. Olinger has a waiting list of 50 people.

Those in need are not just single mothers, but include the elderly and families who have fallen on hard times, Olinger said. Residents of Riverbend are about half from Radford and half from other counties, she said.

Council's resolution says, "While the City Council recognizes the importance of low income housing, it must also recognize the impact of such housing on schools, the welfare and social services system, jails, police, corrections, recreation and other city operations."

The council is sending a letter to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which has the final say on the request. It "strongly" asks that Willow Woods' project be denied, said Assistant City Manager Bob Lloyd.

Last year, Willow Woods applied for low-income housing assistance for 35 units, also opposed by the city. HUD approved it, anyway.

Willow Woods, which now has 60 units subsidized by HUD, applied for assistance for 40 more units because 37 of its residents are paying rent that is 40 percent more than their monthly income, explained Sarah Wallace, spokeswoman for Willow Woods.

"It's not as if we have a tract of land to build on. We're trying to fulfill a need for safe and decent housing," Wallace said.

Radford has one of the highest number of subsidized housing units in the state, said Suzanne Glass, superintendent of welfare and social services for the city.

"In order to get enough people to move here, people who manage these units have to take and solicit people who don't live in Radford," Glass said. "And we are the agent that is highly affected."

As the number of low-income residents increases, the strain on social services such as food stamps or child protective services is increased, she said.

Radford has a good cross section of low- to high-income housing, she said. "We're just trying to maintain a balance in the city."