Escanaba Housing Commission

The Escanaba Housing Commission runs affordable housing options in Escanaba, including Harbor Tower at 110 S 5th Street, and it's a place where seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families can find different types of homes like apartments, single-family houses, condominiums, and townhomes, and you'll also see that most units are senior or disabled-friendly, with a good portion having barrier-free designs. Harbor Tower contains 175 public housing units meant for seniors and people with disabilities, and out of all the residents, 59% are headed by seniors, 49% include persons with disabilities, and 45% are female-headed, so you get a true sense of community and diversity, with people from Native American and White backgrounds among others, and many units are designed for very low- and extremely low-income renters earning under 50% or 30% of the Area Median Income. Anyone thinking about applying should know that applications can be picked up in person or downloaded from their website, filled out and mailed or hand-delivered along with documents like birth certificates, social security cards, and photo IDs for all adults in the household, plus references; you need to check online if they're accepting applications before you start filing. The memory care unit has extra safety tools, special staff training, and features to help people with memory loss, so it's set up for those who need extra support, and this specialized unit has amenities like medication help, Wander Guard systems, and possibly orientation tools, with a price that varies depending on the care. The buildings offer a mix of private and shared dining, in-room kitchens in some spaces, and access to beauty salons, a barber shop, fitness centers, a woodworking shop, a library, computer labs, and coin-operated laundry rooms, with outside spaces like patios, gardens, butterfly gardens, raised beds, walking paths, and a courtyard; pets like dogs and cats are allowed. People who need it can use assisted living, independent living, skilled nursing, memory care, hospice care, and rehab options, with organized wellness and recreational programs and special diets managed for things like diabetes. Staff maintains the buildings and handles needs quickly from a management office, while transportation is available, whether someone needs a ride to an appointment or wants to use public transit nearby, and there's resident parking as well. Every five years, the Commission has to get approval from the HUD Grand Rapids Area Office, and it's scored as a high performer by HUD for its building upkeep, finances, management, and how it uses capital funds. People can manage leases, documents, and applications online, and landlords and renters can search for homes or list properties through the marketplace. Harbor Tower has a security gate and central fireplace, and you'll find laundry rooms, game rooms, billiards, a theater, an arts and crafts center, and TV lounges for residents to gather in. Residents get housekeeping and laundry services, and there are rooms for guests and private dining, so families can visit or celebrate together. The Escanaba Housing Commission doesn't offer Housing Choice Vouchers but oversees public housing, and it keeps a waiting list, which stays open as long as there's space. All of this comes together to help seniors, people with disabilities, and families in Escanaba find safe, affordable, and comfortable places to live with a good amount of support, community activities, and access to services and benefits, and the Commission keeps things secure, organized, and as flexible as possible for different personal needs.