Affordable housing waitlist open for seniors and disabled

Adele Urbano has been trying to get a place in Monterey County for years.

“When I first applied in the senior housing in Pacific Grove, probably about 10 years ago, when I turned 62. So now I’m getting up there and they never called me,” Urbano said.

Now she’s applying again with more at stake — to take care of her daughter, who’s been diagnosed with cancer.

“You know, when you have children, you do what you have to do to in order to help them,” Urbano said.

For now, that means driving to and from her Reno home every three weeks.

“Here in California, seniors are pretty much abandoned and on their own,” Urbano said.

“In the last few years, rents have increased tremendously and so people are having harder time finding units,” said Joni Ruelaz, with Monterey County Housing Authority.

The Housing Authority is opening waitlists for low income buildings in Salinas, Carmel Valley and Pacific Grove.

Those are low income units for people over the age of 62 or the disabled.

A single applicant has to make less than $28,500 and a family of eight have to make less than $53,750.

Those who qualify will pay 30 percent of their income, like Richard de Compos.

“I was walking on them streets, with a walker, with a cast. The worst. Sleeping at Sherwood Park. Sleeping in old town, in the doorways,” de Compos said.

Homeless and disabled, de Compos now has a place after waiting months.

“Look at my pad, it looks nice. It seems beautiful for me,” de Compos said.

But the housing authority said some have to wait much longer to get a spot.

Urbano hopes this time she won’t be one of them.

“I hope they don’t take too long to call me,” Urbano said.

For more information on how to qualify, click here.