Ribbon cutting set for Antelope Court

Friday, District 4 Human Resources Development Council will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Havre's newest low-income housing apartment complex.

The new apartment complex, Antelope Court, is located on Fifth Avenue near the senior living complex Buffalo Court and was built through a partnership between District 4 HRDC, GL Development, the city of Havre, Bear Paw Development Corp., Mountain Plains Equity Group, Glacier Bank of Montana, Montana Housing and Montana Department of Commerce.

The ribbon cutting will he held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2465 Fifth Ave. with a luncheon and speakers immediately following at the District 4 HRDC at 2229 Fifth Ave.

"Join us Friday to celebrate the grand opening of Havre's Antelope Court Apartments. These 30 homes strengthen our community by creating more affordable and accessible places for hardworking Montanans to live," the promotional poster for the event says.

The entire community is invited to the event.

District 4 HRDC Executive Director Carilla French said special guests at the event will include Montana Housing Executive Director Bruce Brensdal, Multi-Family Program Manager Mary Blair, and Research and Outreach Coordinator Penny Cope. Also attending will be Kayla La Salle, advocate and resident of Antelope Court, and Gene Leuwer representing GL Development, Bear Paw Development, the city of Havre, Mountain Plains Equity Group, Fisher Construction and Glacier Bank of Montana.

French added that Karen Thomas, former executive director and the driving force behind Buffalo Court and Antelope Court will also attend.

In 2014, District 4 HRDC partnered with GL Development to begin the application process to build Antelope Court as a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Property with Montana Board Housing, French said.

Construction began in the fall of 2016, she added, and was finished in August 2017.

"Due to the early winter conditions that hit Havre in October, we are just now able to invite the community to join us in the Grand Opening of Antelope Court," French said.

She said 10 years ago an assessment conducted by District 4 HRDC and the state of Montana found there was a high need for housing for seniors so in 2012 Buffalo Court, a housing project for ages 55-plus, was opened.

"The second need the assessment found was that there was no housing available for individuals with disabilities," French said. "Antelope Court has 24 out of 30 units which are fully ADA accessible."

A person does not need to be disabled to live in these apartments, she added, but preference does go to people with disabilities.

"The Antelope Court Low-Income Housing Tax Credit property allows us to offer safe, affordable, quality housing to the hardworking individuals who call Antelope Court home," French said.

Antelope Court includes one- and two-bedroom units with washer and dryer hookups, air conditioning, dishwasher and microwave.

The rent, which includes water, sewer and garbage fees, is income restricted - people must make below a certain income to be eligible to live in the complex.

All of the units are rented, French said, but there is a waiting list.

If a person would like to apply to live at Antelope Court, they can contact on-site property manager Fern Lohse at District 4 HRDC at 265-6743, ext. 1116, she said, or applications can be picked up at the main reception desk at HRDC or downloaded from the official website at http://www.hrdc4.org/.