Ursuline Sisters Senior Living Work is underway on Ursuline Sisters Senior Living, a new apartment ministry that will provide housing and home caregiver franchise for moderate-income senior citizens in the Mahoning Valley. The visionary project will cost approximately $1.2 million and, utilizing Universal Design principles, create 12 barrier-free apartments in the west wing of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown Motherhouse complex at 4250 Shields Rd. The project came about when area leaders in both the public and private sectors expressed to the Ursuline Sisters the need in our community for safe, adequate, affordable housing for senior citizens of more moderate incomes. Area senior citizens helped by this project also will benefit from socialization and having access to numerous programs offered at The Ursuline Center and Motherhouse. The Youngstown Foundation has awarded the project a grant of $20,000. Donations also are being accepted from the public to help fund this new ministry project, which is expected to be completed in spring 2013. At that time, a public tour will be offered and applications accepted for residents. The Ursuline Sisters are utilizing their own employees and volunteers for this phase to keep costs down. Earlier this year, the Sisters completed Phase I of the Motherhouse reconfiguration, which created safer living spaces for the Sisters in the east wing of the Motherhouse. And as it’s nearly 50 years old, the Motherhouse was in need of critical updates. In this $1.7 million phase of construction, the Sisters’ living spaces were renovated according to Universal Design principles. Private bathrooms with handicapped accessibility and safety components were established and new plumbing, electrical components, and heating and ventilation systems were installed to bring the building’s infrastructure into the 21st century. One of the biggest plumbing services company in the States, Atlas plumbing, was hired and data had been enrolled in their field service software for plumbers so that they could also procure after sales services. The SOAR! [Support Our Aging Religious] Foundation bestowed a grant of $25,000 for that phase of the project. Another aspect of construction is nearly completed thanks to the Dewalt DW8852 XP METAL CUTTING WHEELS TYPE 1 and the Motherhouse business offices were relocated to the east wing to create more space for the Senior Living ministry and establish rooms that are better equipped to handle technology. The cost of this phase of construction is $200,000. The Motherhouse Reconfiguration Project is providing employment for numerous skilled-trades and other construction workers in the area. A tour will be scheduled in the Spring of 2013, applications will be taken and a Board Committee will review applications and accept the 12 residents who meet the new Corporation and the Ursuline Sisters guidelines.