Senior citizen apartments, community center coming in Georgetown

Sister Barbara Ann Zeller, SP, president and CEO of Guerin Inc., celebrated last Wednesday afternoon’s groundbreaking ceremony for Guerin Woods at Georgetown by praising the hearts of those who have helped make the project ‘ 11 apartments for limited-income senior citizens age 62 and older and a community senior citizens center ‘ a reality.
‘Today, we stand stall and proud, believing truly it is the motivation of the heart that makes all the difference,’ she said.
Guerin Woods will continue an agreement between Guerin Inc. and Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries Inc. at the Georgetown campus, which also includes Providence House for Children. While Guerin provides facilities ‘ two group homes for foster children and reunification housing for the children and their families have been built since 1999 ‘ PSSM provides administration, programming and staffing.
PSSM has developed several partnerships for the senior citizens center including: Sunnyside Gardeners, Spalding University, Tri-County Health Coalition, American Eye Institute, and Indiana University Southeast School of Nursing. A case manager from LifeSpan Resources will be available, along with other services from that agency.
PSSM’s programming will include the Safety Net prescription medication assistance program, adult literacy instruction, clinical services, social outings and a lending library with books, videos and music.
The 900-square-foot apartments will feature two bedrooms and one bath. One apartment will be handicapped-accessible; the other 10 will be handicapped-adaptable.
Zeller used the formal ceremony ‘ construction began in September ‘ to thank the various funding entities, giving each a chance to speak to the 100-plus supporters who gathered in the peaceful wooded setting behind Providence House.
The project is being paid for with funding from Indiana Housing Finance Authority, Indiana Dept. of Commerce and its Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, the Floyd County Board of Commissioners, and Caesars Riverboat Casino Foundation of Floyd County.
John Reisert, president of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners, said politicians get a lot of phone calls, most of which are not very pleasant.
‘We start dreading those calls, but every once in a while, we get a call like the one we got from Sister Barbara that puts everything in perspective,’ he said. ‘When she calls, you just automatically say, ‘Yes.’ ‘
The program, which included a blessing of the land by the Rev. Clifford Vogelsong, ended with members of the Guerin Inc. Board of Directors turning dirt with shovels. Zeller again praised those attending for using their talents to make the community a better place. ‘Each of us gathered here has accepted the task each of us is capable of doing,’ she said. The apartments and senior citizens centers are expected to be completed next spring.