SLO’s Villaggio would fill a void in assisted-living care

A recent letter to The Tribune stated that Villaggio, the proposed senior housing community, was not a “good cause” because it did not help retired people who could not afford to live there. The author of that letter is taking a too-narrow view of this project’s impact on San Luis Obispo’s retirees.

For instance, there is a serious shortage of memory-loss, skilled nursing and assisted-living care in SLO. Due to the shortage of these facilities, seniors in need of advanced care are often moved to facilities out of the area, or they are cared for at home, at great sacrifice to their loved ones. Villaggio residents who need this advanced care will receive it “on-campus,” reducing pressure on the existing care facilities in and around SLO.

Also, it is incorrect to refer to Villaggio as a community only for the “wealthy.” The entrance fee starts at less than two-thirds of the median sales price for a home in SLO, and the monthly fee is less than the HUD low-income threshold for a household of equal size in SLO County.

Further, the Froom Ranch plan includes affordable housing as required by city of SLO policies.

This story was originally published February 22, 2018 at 11:09 AM with the headline "SLO’s Villaggio would fill a void in assisted-living care."