Providing affordable housing for widows in a supportive Christian community

The Widows Refuge was originally formed on April 23, 2008 as a not-for-profit low income housing alternative in the city of Orlando for widows who for one reason or another, do not have the income for all of their needs. Our two-to-seven year strategic plan is to have 121 one-bedroom, 800 sq. ft. cottages, which we hope to raise the capital required to bring these plans to completion in a steady and timely manner. We want to provide a thrift store and food shelf in our community center supplied through our partnerships with local churches as well as community resource programs. Knowing that many of the residents will not have their own vehicles, we want to also provide for their transportation needs through a shuttle service. Our long term goals may allow for us to have an activities director for the women to participate in a variety of helpful educational and fun programs.     Currently we have a residential/commercial appraiser and developer who is volunteering his services to help the Widows Refuge select the appropriate property in Orlando on which to build the Widows Refuge Cottage Community. Through our foundational and governmental grant writing, we are hoping that this land and buildings will be donated to our organization as a non-cash real estate gift in these first two years.       At this point, we do not have a property, office or cottage facility. The Widows Refuge strategic plan estimates that in two to seven years, we would like to have raised the funding to begin building and developing an independent living facility with 121 affordable 800-square-foot bedroom cottages. Please see the attached sample brochure for more details, pictures and floor plan. As the centerpiece of the community, we will be building a community center with flexible space for dining, large group presentations and a church service on Sunday mornings. A deck area will be built off the back of the community building with a pool, exercise room and offices. Our prospective property site, which we hope to have all the funds raised prior to the purchase, will be developed by the year 2010, and is conveniently located within one mile of a grocery store and 3 miles from the nearest hospital.