Alachua County Housing Authority breaking ground on senior center, expanding programs

Ken D. Armstrong
·3 min read

The mission of the Alachua County Housing Authority (ACHA) is to assist low-income and disadvantaged members of the community in locating and maintaining affordable housing in a safe and sanitary environment. The ACHA team works relentlessly to meet and exceed this mission statement.

Over the past several years, ACHA has grown from an agency with only 472 Housing Choice vouchers and 276 public housing units to an agency with over 1,150 vouchers and a plethora of new housing programs. These programs assist not only low-income, vulnerable families, but have also helped thousands of previously homeless veterans, hundreds of disabled individuals and dozens of homeless school children and foster youth secure safe, decent and affordable housing.

Two men talk outside of their rooms in 2013 at the Sunshine Inn, a hotel that the Alachua County Housing Authority converted into housing. The ACHA manages the 30-unit property, housing mostly veterans utilizing Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers.
Two men talk outside of their rooms in 2013 at the Sunshine Inn, a hotel that the Alachua County Housing Authority converted into housing. The ACHA manages the 30-unit property, housing mostly veterans utilizing Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers.

Alongside the growing voucher-based programs that allow families to rent in the private market, ACHA continues to rehabilitate existing housing authority-owned properties in order to provide public housing residents with modernized, energy-efficient properties. While rehabilitating aging units, ACHA is beyond thrilled to break ground in late 2022 on a 40-unit senior center, Arbours at Merrillwood I.

This competitive 9% tax credit awarded to ACHA will bring not only affordable housing to the elderly residents of Alachua County, but job opportunities and growth to the city of Alachua. This property will provide a home for our elders to receive the necessary supportive services while aging in place.

The Alachua County Housing Authority is breaking ground in late 2022 on a 40-unit senior center, Arbours at Merrillwood I.
The Alachua County Housing Authority is breaking ground in late 2022 on a 40-unit senior center, Arbours at Merrillwood I.

As ACHA eagerly awaits the development of Arbours at Merrillwood I, we continue to work with partnering agencies such as the Department of Veteran Affairs, Alachua County, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Archer Place Project, United Way of North Central Florida, Alachua County School Board, St. Francis House, Center for Independent Living and Partnership for Strong Families to provide not only housing, but the additional services essential for those in need.

These vital partnerships are the avenues to aid in ending homelessness in our county. Partnerships with entities such as the Archer Place Project will assist in securing 24 project-based vouchers that will supply additional affordable housing options for individuals and families within the county. Partnerships with agencies such as Alachua County and Family Promise will provide two years of housing assistance combined with intensive case management to families in need.

Apartment units used for public housing in the Sugarfoot neighborhood that were modernized.
Apartment units used for public housing in the Sugarfoot neighborhood that were modernized.

ACHA hears the needs echoed throughout the community for more affordable, safe housing options and commits to working toward meeting the local housing needs for the laudable residents of Alachua County. Collaborations with our partnering agencies, additional program funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ,and our ongoing dedication to growing the affordable housing stock via 4% and 9% tax credits will bring over 200 additional affordable housing units to Alachua County within the next few years.

We look forward to continuing our work with our fellow agencies and the people of Alachua County to provide affordable housing to those most in need.

Ken D. Armstrong is CEO of the Alachua County Housing Authority. 

Join the conversation

Share your opinions by sending a letter to the editor (up to 200 words) to letters@gainesville.com. Letters must include the writer's full name and city of residence. Additional guidelines for submitting letters and longer guest columns can be found at bit.ly/sunopinionguidelines.


Journalism matters. Your support matters.

Get a digital subscription to the Gainesville Sun. Includes must-see content on Gainesville.com and Gatorsports.com, breaking news and updates on all your devices, and access to the eEdition. Visit www.gainesville.com/subscribenow to sign up.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Ken D. Armstrong: Alachua County Housing Authority expanding options