KISSIMMEE, FL — The Osceola Council on Aging, alongside Osceola County leaders and community partners, celebrated the grand opening of Buen Vecino, a new 60-unit affordable housing community for seniors ages 62 and older in the Buenaventura Lakes area.
The new development provides affordable apartments where eligible residents pay only 30% of their income toward rent, allowing them to remain close to family, healthcare, shopping, and other essential services.
The project was funded through a partnership that included a $5.2 million investment from Osceola County, approximately $5.7 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), $500,000 from the City of Kissimmee, and a $1.25 million grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, distributed through Truist.
Designed to support independent living, Buen Vecino features in-unit washers and dryers, a clubhouse, walking trails, supportive services, and a new Digital Learning Lab. During the grand opening, Spectrum also presented the Osceola Council on Aging with a $15,000 Beyond the Build Digital Education Grant to support technology training and digital literacy programs for residents.
County officials said the project is another step in Osceola County’s long-term investment in affordable housing. Over the past 15 years, the county has invested more than $50 million to help create more than 2,100 affordable housing units, with more than 1,000 additional units currently under construction or in development.
Leaders said Buen Vecino will provide seniors with safe, affordable housing while helping them stay connected through access to technology, healthcare resources, and community services.
SOURCE: OSCEOLA COUNTY GOVERNMENT
