When Green Ridge House opened in 1979 the city’s primary goal was to provide a housing option for low income Greenbelt seniors since there was no other senior residence in the city. At the same time, it was designed to include 10 handicapped-accessible units among its 100 one-bedroom apartments, so the facility has always been capable of serving a modest number of disabled residents.
At a worksession on June 20, five members of the Greenbelt City Council discussed the changing demographics of those who now live or are on the waiting list for Green Ridge House in order to eventually make a determination on whether revisions to the existing admissions policy should be made to realign the property more closely with its original mission. Councilmembers were in agreement, however, that if there were to be a change in admission policy, it would not affect individuals already living at Green Ridge House.
Councilmembers Edward Putens and Colin Byrd were unable to attend the meeting. City Manager Nicole Ard and Christal Batey, community resource advocate for the Greenbelt Assistance in Living (GAIL) program, were present and Liz Park, director of Greenbelt CARES, joined the meeting later.
Read more of this story in the July 5 News Review.