Riverside County, Calif., Housing Authority Approves Construction of Affordable Housing Complex for HIV-Positive People

The Housing Authority of the County of Riverside last week approved the $1 million purchase of five acres of land in Palm Springs, Calif., for an affordable-housing project for HIV-positive people and a new medical clinic, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. The county plans to sell about half of the land -- which is adjacent to the Desert AIDS Project offices -- for $350,000 to St. Louis-based developer McCormack Baron Salazar to build the 80-unit Vista Sunrise Apartments. The remaining land will be used for a new, county-operated medical clinic. Construction on the clinic and the apartment complex -- which will include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units -- is slated to begin this fall, Emilio Ramirez, deputy director of the county housing authority, said. He added that about half of the apartments will have rent control and start at about $487 per month. Margie Francia, associate project manager for McCormack, said the Desert AIDS Project will provide tenants with health programs, legal and psychiatric services, support groups, parental assistance, job training, employment counseling and computer classes. George Puddephatt -- director of social services and case management for the Desert AIDS Project, which has about 2,300 clients -- said the apartment complex already has a waiting list of prospective tenants (Hermann, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 8/2).

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