MARBLE HILL HOUSING FOR HANDICAPPED

MARBLE HILL -- VIP Industries has opened a new semi-independent apartment complex here as part of a move to provide housing for the handicapped.

The facility, called Regency House of Marble Hill, is a 15-unit complex for the mentally retarded, developmentally disabled and physically handicapped.

An open house will be held Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Regency House, North and Water streets.

Similar facilities have been opened by VIP Industries in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville.

Susan Wallis, vice president of VIP Industries, said through the company's work with handicapped people a need for housing became apparent.

"It's a needed program, and since we deal with a lot of programs for these people, we felt we should be the ones to get into the program for them," Wallis said.

VIP Industries has been in operation since May 1967, and has fostered programs for the handicapped.

"We have on our rolls 375 handicapped individuals," Wallis said. "And we are doing profiles on all the handicapped individuals we have ever served."

That number is over 600.

"A lot of these individuals' families are getting elderly and they want to know their child will be in a life-time program," Wallis said. "Also, we have a number of people who have fallen through the cracks. It became very apparent our people needed this program."

Wallis said without the apartments, some of the residents would end up on the streets with no where to live.

"Several of our residents were on the streets," she said. "For one reason or another, they didn't have any place to stay."

Wallis said the semi-independent and supported housing projects are financed through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidy that allows VIP to provide rental assistance to tenants. They must pay 30 percent of their earning towards rental of the apartment.

Wallis said about 60 percent of the residents in the apartments work for VIP Industries and about 40 percent work in the community.

Three residents have moved into Regency House, Wallis said. Three others are in the processing stage.

"We look for this facility to fill up within a year."

The idea of supported living is for the person to become as independent as possible in their apartment with support services provided as needed.

"Residents must be able to live semi-independently," Wallis said.

She said homemakers will be available to teach some skills or perform chores, as needed. For example, the homemaker might help the person learn how to do laundry or about cooking. If some tasks cannot be performed by the resident, the homemaker does them.

"We have one young man who can't cook. He can take care of himself, but he doesn't have full use of his hands. He will need someone to come in and cook his meals."

Residents will operate at different levels of independence.

"Some of the people we serve will always need assistance," she said. "Others will be able to take care of most of their needs."

Wallis said openings are available in Marble Hill. For more information, call 334-9663.

The open house is scheduled, Wallis said, because "we would like people to see how it is running and become a little more oriented to what it's all about."

An open house is planned at the Jackson facility Oct. 20.