GAINESVILLE - The agency that serves as an adult day center for the medically-fragile elderly in Gainesville has received an eviction notice, but the executive director of the Guest House says she's not sure when they'll have to move.
Dana Chapman said Thursday a November 20 letter from the Gainesville Housing Authority said the eviction would be effective "in the upcoming weeks."
"I asked the person who wrote the letter what 'the upcoming weeks' meant and he was unable to answer that question," she said.
Chapman said the issue with a lease at the current Guest House location on Tower Heights Road in Gainesville has been ongoing for 18 months. The Housing Authority apparently wants to use the area, but Chapman said she is unsure for what purpose.
What the Housing Authority is planning, however, is not her concern. Her primary focus right now is finding a place where the mission of the Guest House can continue. She said finding the right facility is not easy.
"I started looking for property last year...actually in the summer," said Chapman. "We've looked at probably 30, 35, 40 different properties. It's a difficult thing because this population is frail and we have such particular needs for their safety."
The Guest House, which has been in operation for 27 years, offers a safe place for senior adults to go during the day. Chapman noted that these seniors are not necessarily ready for nursing home care, but they do need additional attention, such as help with meals or dispensing of medication.
Right now, she said there are 40 clients who come to the Guest House on a regular basis.
Attorneys for both the Guest House and the Gainesville Housing Authority will be in court December 6 to see if they can come to some sort of agreement on when the Guest House will vacate its current location.
The Gainesville Housing Authority had not returned a call for comment on the issue as of 2:00 p.m. Thursday
Friday
November 29th, 2024
10:41AM
