WILLIAMSPORT -- A brand new affordable housing complex in Lycoming County is now officially open. Memorial Homes in Williamsport was built to help those who can't keep up with rising rent in the city partially due to the influx of gas workers.
Ramona DiMassimo and her service dog Elvis are right at home in their new apartment at Memorial Homes in Williamsport.
"I said when I come in here they must have known how many blouses I had so they built the closet to satisfy me," said DiMassimo.
There are 40 brand new one and two bedroom apartments at Memorial Homes. DiMassimo moved in earlier this year. She helped cut the ribbon. Now, county officials are ready to show off their newest housing project.
"If you drove through this neighborhood just a few years ago you would have seen a lot of decline," said Wheeler.
Kim Wheeler works for the county. She says the $10 million development project is the first phase of a $17 million project to help improve housing in the Brodart neighborhood in Williamsport.
"We're doing everything from code compliance, weatherization, and roofing accessibility improvements - really trying to upgrade the properties in this neighborhood," said Wheeler.
County officials say Memorial Homes is just the first step in a much bigger picture to help bring new affordable housing options to Williamsport.
"The moving in of the gas industry here just exacerbated already existing conditions," said Wheeler.
"I didn't think I was going to be able to afford a place like this with everything that have to offer," said DiMassimo.
"I knew it was my home before I moved in. When it was being built," said Marie Fye.
Marie Fye also lives in the complex. She's retired and says she feels safe here.
"Being able to be on your own and not on your own because it's a community here it's not just a building,” said Fye.
The project was funded by federal and state grants. Apartments are still available at Memorial Housing in Williamsport.