Gateway spelled out in hedges

There
are 260 apartments holding a little over 300 people--efficiencies,
small one bedroom, large one bedroom, 2 bedroom apartments and one 3
bedroom apartment. The complex is owned by the Family of Westminster
Communities of Florida Services on the most desirable property in Fort Lauderdale .

During
WW2 they were used for barracks and then after the war they became
condos only to be converted to the current day apartments and to become
government subsidized housing.

Above--the walk way on the south side of Gateway

The
basic requirements to move into Gateway are that you be over 62 and
make less than $14,000 a year income from all sources in order to be
eligible for section 8--for section 202 you can make a little more
money. There are exceptions as one man has his 'caretaker' who is
younger, a lot younger, than 62 and a few make more money.

When
you first move in, if you are single, you get an efficiency or small
one bedroom apartment than after you have lived here for a year you get
on the list for a large bedroom apartment. Couples, whether nongay , gay (yes, gay--we have anti discrimination laws here in Broward County) or someone with a caretaker move into a 2 bedroom apartment
There are mother and daughter, father and son, husband and wife, husband
and husband but the majority of people are single of which 24, that I
know of, are gay.

Residents
range in age from 40+ to 101, male, female, gay, nongay, all religions
and atheists, various nationalities, races and from all economic levels.
Some still have family while others have none. Some were 'famous',
'well to do', entertainers, business owners while others never had
anything.

Included
in the rent, which is based on 1/3 of what your income is from all
sources minus medical deductions, is electricity, water, 60 cable
stations for $29, a $14 credit on your phone while most get $14 in food
stamps each month. Along with this are government canned commodities
such as fruit, vegetables, etc., every other month. Every Monday to
Thursday morning there are pies, cakes, cookies and bread delivered to
the community room and once a month, if eligible, a 50 pound box of
various foods.

Looking out from my living room (bottom)and a 'backyard' (top)

On
the premises are a library, country store, hair salon, 1/2 a dozen
laundry rooms, a community center where luncheons, dinners, special
events, parties, dances, health meetings and free Wheel On Meals are
served.

The
staff consists of 4 ladies in the office who handle all social and
special services, a maintenance crew of 7 and many volunteers. Lisa is
in charge of the whole operation, Babs the social worker while Valerie
and Alicia handle everything from the apartment aspects.

There
is a swimming pool and a picnic area over looking Karen Bay. We have a
breezeway where barbecue's and exercise classes are held and some people
get together around sunset just to talk and, once in awhile, have
cocktails.

There are alcoholics, smokers, addicts, ex addicts, alcoholics, smokers. There are young 70 years olds and old 70 year olds --some people use walkers while others don't, the 'in' thing now is an
electric wheelchair so you have to be careful when you are walking. Many
are bicycle riders while others walk a couple of miles a day. States of
health range from remarkable to almost ready to be moved to a nursing
home.

Gateway Terrace apartments/Karen Bay from the air (left)

My backyard looking from my window

As
diverse as the community is most everyone gets along and respects each
other but like in every community there are those that complain and are
unhappy. They don't realize how fortunate there is a place like Gateway
for them in their old years instead of being homeless or living with
relatives who don't want them.

Personally
I feel it is the best thing that could have happened to me when I was
on the verge of being homeless, getting old, being alone and having no
where to go. I have been here now for 10 years, starting my eleventh
year at the end of May, and I haven't a single complaint.