DUBOIS – Sandy Township Supervisors were receptive to a proposal made Monday night that would bring an elder cottage to the township.
The supervisors heard the proposal from Julie Fenton, director of business development for the county’s Area Agency on Aging.
“The elderly population is going to skyrocket in the next few years. The cost for traditional care is high,” said Fenton.
According to her, elder cottages are pre-fabricated tiny houses that are 40 feet by 15 feet. They are single-floor homes with a bedroom, bath, kitchen and living room.
Fenton said elder cottages exist to provide an alternative to assisted living. She said the cottage is placed in a yard, so that the elderly person is close to family but can still be independent.
Fenton said the agency is working with a grant to make these cottages more affordable. The elder cottage would cost approximately $65,000.
According to her, Mature Resources would be the owner of the cottage but would rent it out to families. The cottage’s rent would be 30 percent of the resident’s income.
When the resident isn’t any longer in need of the cottage, it would be reclaimed by Mature Resources at its cost and moved to a new location. The host family would only be asked to make sure the cottage is maintained.
Zoning ordinances would need amended before an elder cottage could be placed in Sandy Township. The supervisors voted to send information to both the township and Clearfield County Planning Commissions.