JBD is digging in for £6.7m housing
JEWISH BLIND & Disabled has held the ground-breaking ceremony for a £6.7 million housing project in Bushey — its eighth development of modern mobility apartments in London and the Hertfordshire suburbs.
This latest facility is adjacent to Cecil Rosen Court, which opened in 2014. It will offer 15 one- and four two-bedroom apartments for those aged 18 and up with physical disabilities or vision impairment. It will also feature a roof terrace and communal areas and there will be 24/7 support from resident house managers.
Around £1 million is still needed to complete the project.
JBD chief executive Hazel Kaye anticipates that the first tenants will move in towards the end of next year.
“We are aware of how living in unsuitable accommodation can make life very difficult for people who have had to face a diagnosis of disability or vision impairment,” she said.
“As the only charity in the Jewish community dedicated to enabling people in this position to live independently, we are constantly looking for new sites.”
The charity accommodates 360 people in its existing seven buildings but John Joseph, the JBD chairman, points out that its waiting list continues to grow.
This currently stands at 65, although JBD expects it to increase significantly once people become aware of the new building. The majority on the list have a physical disability.
Although a number of potential sites for additional properties have been investigated, none have met JBD’s strict criteria. These include easy access, close proximity to a doctor and pharmacy, good public transport links and near to a synagogue and kosher shopping.