[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 160 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING COOPERATIVE HOUSING CORPORATION

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 24, 2011

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cooperative 
Housing Corporation, located in Somerville, Somerset County, New 
Jersey, as it celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
  Cooperative Housing Corporation (CHC) was created in 1986 to address 
the significant lack of affordable senior housing in central New 
Jersey. Its founders reasoned that affordable housing need not solely 
be a municipal burden, but that public/private partnerships could co-
support it and foster conscionable development, preserving the 
aesthetics of community neighborhoods through Shared Living 
Arrangements for seniors.
  It was soon realized that such housing, which would allow each 
resident to have their own bedroom/bathroom suite while sharing common 
areas, would also benefit special needs populations, particularly 
young, employable males. Therefore, the Mission of CHC became, ``to 
provide older adults and some special needs populations with shared 
housing facilities and services especially designed to meet their 
physical, social and psychological needs on a cooperative family basis 
and, through the caring `second family' environment, to promote their 
health, security, happiness and usefulness in longer living.''
  CHC opened the first of its seven houses on January 1, 1990, and 
since that date, has provided round the clock services, sustenance and 
housing to 157 individuals whose average income has been less than 
$14,000 per year and whose average length of stay has been a remarkable 
six and a half years.
  The elderly, no matter their physical, emotional or mental condition 
at the time of admission to any residential program, eventually ``age 
in place'' and, if frail, are often moved to more restrictive and 
costly-to-government settings. This reality of aging and new needs of 
CHC's own residents motivated initiation of innovative programming 
toward a host of services for this vulnerable population. The operating 
premise of CHC remains unique. As needs arise, CHC works to address 
them both innovatively and creatively; modifying program approach born 
through the reality of senior residents aging in place, from fully 
independent living to ``Senior Affordable Supportive Housing'' (SASH), 
of which there is no similar program in New Jersey.
  The occasion of its 25th Anniversary, also marks CHC's transition 
into a new housing model from the 5 unit ensuites to 10 units. This 
allows CHC to serve additional lower income residents in a more cost-
efficient manner, maximizing available public and private resources to 
address their increasing need for supportive services.
  The Housing Partnership is commended for its innovative 
contributions, the creativity of its Founders, and the consistency and 
dedication of its Board and Staff through the years in helping to 
resolve the dilemma of affordable housing for vulnerable populations in 
our great state.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
Cooperative Housing Corporation on its 25th Anniversary.

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