Jacksonville News

Photo by Member Mark Krancer, Kram Kran Photo

Photo by Member Mark Krancer, Kram Kran Photo

ARTICLE

Date ArticleType
5/23/2024 4:00:00 AM Member News

Opening of New Community Center at Wayne Densch Apartments

What:
Ability Housing, in partnership with AdventHealth, is hosting a celebration to mark the opening of the new Wayne Densch Apartments Community Center. Residents and guests will enjoy an afternoon of light refreshments and self-guided tours of the new facility.

 

The community center features a multipurpose room, laundry facilities, three offices where residents can meet privately with case managers, office space for the property management team, a computer lab and library. The space will also be utilized by AdventHealth University and its Hope Clinic. Occupational therapy students and staff will provide free services, such as training residents to perform tasks required for independent living, assessing homes for any risks and conducting group therapy sessions to enhance communication and socialization skills.

 

The new community center at the Wayne Densch Apartments was funded by a variety of public and private partners, including $500,000 in federal funding secured by U.S. Representative Val Demings (FL-10) and $250,000 from the Orange County Government through an American Rescue Plan appropriation. JR Construction Group, LLC is the general contractor on the project. 

 

Wayne Densch Center, Inc., which is owned and operated the Wayne Densch Community as a transitional housing community for more than 18 years, donated the property to AdventHealth in 2016. In turn, AdventHealth partnered with Ability Housing to operate and transform the property into 75 units of permanent housing for individuals and families exiting or at risk of homelessness. In August of 2022, AdventHealth sold the property to Ability Housing for $10. Since major renovations were completed from 2019 to 2020, the community has remained fully leased.

When:
Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 3 p.m.
Media are encouraged to arrive between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m.

Where:
Wayne Densch Community Center
1000 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Orlando, FL 32810

Who:
Speakers include:
- Shannon Nazworth, President and CEO of Ability Housing 

- Mayor Jerry Demings, Mayor of Orange County 

- Rep. Val Demings, Former Congresswoman of the U.S. House of Representatives Florida’s 10th District 

- Michael Griffin, Chair of the Board of Ability Housing, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy of AdventHealth 


Visuals:
Photo and video opportunities will include:
- Tour of property
- Interviews with representatives at 3:30 p.m.

Visual Assets:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/34hta3fb74tpa79l97pr1/AFN4kyd6yBzOxgzmWU46Byc?rlkey=20wvh9xnu08z934czztngmoa0&st=df0bn87u&dl=0


Media Contacts:
For media inquiries only, please contact:

Ability Housing: Joe Wolf |
joe@wearewingard.com | 904-910-4454 (cell)

Ability Housing: Nan Kavanaugh | nan@wearewingard.com | 904-415-0051 (cell)