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The post Abilene First City in Texas to House All its Homeless Veterans appeared first on Weidner Apartment Homes Blog.
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Thanks to the efforts of several homeless assistance organizations and Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams, the city of Abilene is the first in Texas to find a way to house its homeless veteran population.For concerned Abilene citizens, the effort to secure housing for these often-overlooked citizens started with them gathering the data regarding how many homeless veterans existed in the area.
To get this information, John Meier, program director for The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program of the West Central Texas Regional Foundation, said his staff connected with Abilene case managers to identify and reach out to homeless veterans in the city. They also collaborated with food banks, police volunteers and more.
Once the data was compiled, they shared it with the mayor, whose staff worked with the group to create a system that would permanently house homeless veterans and continue to identify at-risk candidates.
According to The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, there are four benchmarks a community has to meet before it can officially declare an end to veteran homelessness:
- An end to chronic and long-term veteran homelessness
- Veterans’ quick access to permanent housing
- Sufficient permanent housing capacity
- Veterans’ access to transitional housing
Abilene has achieved all four benchmarks, and now dozens of community leaders and politicians throughout the country are trying to replicate a similar solution in their own areas.
According to Mayor Williams, he wants to keep the momentum up and has plans to announce a future initiative that will tackle Abilene’s entire homeless population.
The staff at Summer Winds congratulates the City of Abilene for its tremendous efforts on behalf of our homeless vets. We make sure we show our appreciation to US service members by offering a military discount as a way of saying thanks for serving and protecting our nation. If you’re looking for an affordable, thoughtfully designed and family-friendly apartment in Abilene, TX that offers desirable amenities, outstanding community features and a prime location, contact us today at Summer Wind Apartment Homes. We’re here to schedule your personal tour at your convenience and help you discover your amazing new home.
Is it important to provide military discounts and help homeless US veterans find permanent housing? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and with readers at #LifeatWeidner
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]]>The post Living in Abilene, Surrounded by Love and Fun appeared first on Weidner Apartment Homes Blog.
]]>Dawkins is a fan of author Peter Kageyama’s “For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places”, particularly his ideas concerning creating Love Notes which are “small, hyper-local and fun interventions” for the health and progress of a community. She wanted to find ways to adopt the concept of creating Love Notes for the residents in her apartment community to foster a sense of pride and belonging in the people who live there, and so far, she’s been amazed at the results.
“It’s a small community, and I think that’s why this experiment has been so successful,” said Dawkins when asked about the results so far. “The sense of loving and caring about each other has spread like wildfire and keeps growing here,” she said.
Here are some ways Dawkins has created Love Notes for her residents:
It’s the little things that matter
“I just try to listen sometimes, and pay attention to what people are talking about,” said Dawkins when asked how she thinks of ways to share the love with her residents. If it’s good news or challenging news, she said she tries to “share a kind word, or even a card with well-wishes sometimes – just something to keep their spirits up and let them know we care.” Since it’s a pet-friendly community, she also keeps dog treats in office to share with her residents’ furry family members.
If you build it, they will come
Dawkins noticed that some of her residents tended to congregate around the mailbox area, chatting as they waited for the postal carrier. “I thought it would be nice if they had someplace to sit while they’re talking,” so she had her maintenance crew build benches where “residents can relax in the shade as they hang out and chat,” she said.
Resident activities
“Having an involved and active community is a sign that you’re doing your job right,” said Dawkins. She likes to keep things hopping for her residents, and she’s found that they are “ready to play”. A few of the many resident functions she’s hosted so far include:
- Scavenger hunts – This spring, she hid Easter eggs around the property that contained clues to win the grand prize
- Window bingo – The residents have a bingo card, she posts a letter/number combo in the office window daily, and “Bingo!” someone wins the prize when they fill in that magic row.
- Group socials – Many members of the community gather together in the clubroom for fun times, mostly centering around food themes like ice cream day, or a Texas favorite, Frito Pie day, where residents belly up to the taco bar and create their own Frito Pie extravaganzas. “It just makes my day to look around and see people eating, talking, laughing together… it’s what makes my job so enjoyable,” said Dawkins.
Group outings
She also recognized that people tend to have fun in numbers, and, since they often like to go out together to enjoy the shopping, dining and green spaces surrounding the property, she helps to facilitate the outings from their prime location whenever possible:
- Grover Nelson Park is within walking distance of their Abilene apartment community, where they can enjoy walking, kayaking, and swimming surrounded by scenic views.
- Abilene Zoo and Botanical Park, with more than 1,000 animals, beautiful gardens, a lake and park, is also just down the route for her residents.
- Rose’s Mexican Restaurant and the Lytle Lake Steakhouse are just two of the dining options to choose from to celebrate special occasions or just enjoy a simple meal together.
If you’re looking for a great apartment in Abilene with a close and active community in a quiet park-like setting, contact us today at Lexington Court Apartment Homes. We’re ready to schedule your personal tour and help you find the perfect place to call home!
(325) 673-4000
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]]>The post Love Notes Inspire Abilene Apartment Community Director appeared first on Weidner Apartment Homes Blog.
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When author Peter Kageyama talks about cities, he focuses on “love notes” – simple things created in a city that “surprise and delight”, including interesting artwork or unique design.
These love notes can differ from city to city, including large-scale projects like public art installations and beautified areas where people can gather, to small and simple things such as a small rock garden where local residents hand-paint stones and add them to the display.
Vital cities are about more than being just functional and safe. When local residents are proud of certain focal points in their cities, these love notes can become fun touchpoints that residents are proud of and want to share with loved ones and visitors.
By considering the five guiding principles for a community – “functional, safe, comfortable, convivial and fun – the end result will be to build lovable cities.
Inspired by this philosophy, Jesslyn Davis, community director of Bent Tree Apartments in Abilene, is making sure her apartment community follows the same principles. “I want our residents to love where they live and stay for years, because that’s how a close community grows together,” she said.
Davis shared some of the ways she’s enhanced her apartment community:
Functional
“We have on-site management here to make sure things function smoothly, including a 24-hour on-call maintenance team to cover emergency repairs,” said Davis. “We also offer digital options to pay rent and make online maintenance requests for people with busy lives.”
Safe
Residents in Davis’ community each have fenced-in backyards to help ensure their safety and security, and each apartment comes with a covered carport to help protect cars during the “occasional crazy Abilene storm.”
Comfortable
Great amenities include a full kitchen appliance package, ceiling fans, plush carpet and oversize closets to help make everyday living easier. Living in a pet-friendly community is not only comfortable, but imperative for people with furry family members.
Once you step outside, comfort still matters. “At our place, besides the patios and balconies that provide plenty of outdoor space to relax and enjoy the view, we also have a great pool and a 24-hour fitness center,” said Davis. Location matters too, as you want it to be close to good schools, great shopping and major routes. For example, “We’re in a great neighborhood area – surrounded by houses and huge trees – and we’re centrally located with everything right down the street with easy access to Winters Freeway and the Interstate 20 Business Loop and several bus stops nearby,” said Davis.
Convivial
One very important aspect of apartment living is how well the community gets along. Davis loves the fact that she and her staff have brought the concept of love notes to life. “We were inspired by Kageyama’s love notes and created a few of our own in our community,” she said. Some of these projects include: building a dog park on-site, installing a tree swing by the office that the kids use, building a bench around a tree, so residents can enjoy the shade on sunny days, and providing flat, smooth rocks along with paint for kids so they can decorate the stones and display them in the resident rock garden near the front door of the office.
FUN!
Beyond the convivial spirit between residents, Davis recognizes the need for good old-fashioned fun sometimes, both on the property and in the surrounding area.
Onsite: The staff at Bent Tree Apartments shows love for its residents beyond the daily good service they provide. For example, “Each summer we have a huge annual resident-appreciation BBQ and pool party with food and entertainment for all,” Davis said, adding, “People love it and come back every year.” She said, “Oh, and we always have popsicles in the office for the kiddos.”
Nearby: Her community is also close to so many fun options, so residents can:
- Travel back in time at the Taylor County History Center
- Watch artists in action at The Center for Contemporary Arts
- See local art and photos at the Grace Museum
- Toast the good life at the Pappy Slokum Brewery or the Winery at Willow Creek
- Indulge their sweet tooth at McKay’s Bakery
- Catch live theater, concerts, musicals, film, opera, and dance performances at the historic Paramount Theatre
- Learn about the cosmos at the Morgan Jones Planetarium
- Go wild at the Abilene Zoo
Be close to all the excitement that Abilene has to offer while enjoying great amenities and a close community by living at Bent Tree Apartments.
Why wait? Contact us today to schedule a tour and start and living life at its finest in a great apartment in Abilene, TX.
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]]>The post 6 Fun Ways to Make Your Apartment-Warming Party Fun and Memorable appeared first on Weidner Apartment Homes Blog.
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Moving into a new apartment is exciting! Throwing an apartment-warming party is a great way to share that experience with family and friends by welcoming them to your new space and showing off its charm and style. It can also be a fun way to say hello to your new neighbors and start getting to know your community.
At Summer Winds Apartment Homes, we want to make sure your apartment-warming celebration is memorable, so we’ve put together six fun ideas to help you plan your party…
- Decide on a Theme – There are lots of ways you can go with party themes, so you can choose the one that fits your style the best:
- If you’re throwing the bash right after you move in, you can host an Unpacking Party where guests can speed up the moving-in process in exchange for food and beverages that you provide.
- If you’re not the greatest cook, consider making it a Potluck Party because friends and family are usually happy to pitch in. Keep it simple by having them bring appetizers, so your guests can mingle as they munch.
- Send Evites – Forget paper. Instead, choose and create the perfect online invitation and track your RSVPs with apps like Evite or Greenenvelope. This is a great opportunity to give your guests a sneak peek into the theme and style of your apartment-warming party, and by sending them three to four weeks in advance, it allows them to save the date.
- Take cues from your apartment community – At Summer Winds, there’s always something fun and worthwhile happening, and you can incorporate some of these ideas into your apartment-warming party. From a chocolate fountain on Valentine’s Day and a game center in the summer to school-supply drives in the fall and an annual holiday food-drive and party in the winter, there are lots of fun decorating ideas and themes to borrow from and participate in.
- Set up a selfie corner – This is always a crowd-pleaser, and it’s really easy to do. Designate a corner or spot, add a few balloons for a colorful background and throw in some props like fake mustaches, crazy hats, feather boas and giant sunglasses – this never fails to entertain, and people will be showing off your sweet new apartment when they share the pics.
- Hold a Design Competition – If you’re not sure how you want to decorate a room or space in your new apartment, invite your design-savvy guests to sketch some ideas for you to consider. The best idea wins… and you’ll win too by having one of the best-looking apartments in Abilene!
- Give Tours of Your New Apartment – Whether you want to show off your new kitchen with its complete kitchen appliance package, your spacious floor plan, or enviable walk-in closets, people will want to check out your new place. Don’t forget to show them your outdoor amenities too, from the sparkling swimming pool to BBQ areas and convenient pet stations in your new pet-friendly community.
- Branch Out – Since your new apartment is in a prime location near the heart of Abilene, just about everything in town is within a 10-minute radius. You can start the party at your place and then branch out to enjoy activities together in the surrounding area because it’s so close to freeways, transportation, parks, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
Are you ready to move and start celebrating your new apartment? Contact us at Summer Wind Apartment Homes to schedule your tour today to find your new home.
| Phone: | (325) 695-0892 |
| Email: | Schedule a Tour |
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]]>The post Weidner Cares Team Visits Texas appeared first on Weidner Apartment Homes Blog.
]]>In May 2017, Weidner Apartment Homes held the "Weidner Cares!" community service days in Midland and Abilene, Texas.
Midland, TX
The Weidner Cares Team recently partnered with Casa de Amigos in Midland, TX, where 120 volunteers helped paint, clean, and organize their facility. According to their website, "Casa de Amigos is a multicultural neighborhood center that provides comprehensive services in four main areas: Adult and Youth Education, Social Services, Health & Wellness and Senior Services. They offer a variety of services, such as ESL classes, medical care, childcare, job counseling services, a senior citizen day center, and much more."
The Weidner Cares Team repainted, deep-cleaned, and replaced flooring in the nursery of the facility. They also cleaned and organized the storage room, garage, and computer room. The boardroom, doctor's office, and 3 of the classrooms received a much-needed new coat of paint. The kitchen was cleaned and painted, and the library was redesigned with a new house-shaped bookshelf and seating area. More than 1,000 books were sorted and organized. Outside, the playground was painted, cleaned, and new shade tarps were added. Additionally, the basketball court received a makeover with a fresh coat of paint on the benches and new games were added to the court.
The Casa de Amigos team was appreciative and excited, and Executive Director Tonya Eckert commented, "Everybody loves to come into an environment that feels good and looks good. This is just is so inviting. Our clients are going to be so astounded to see the changes that were made in just a 24-hour period. We cannot say how much we appreciate the change this will make for our clients."
Abilene, TX
In Abilene, TX, the Weidner Cares team partnered with the City of Abilene's Neighborhood Initiative, working specifically in the Alameda Neighborhood. Over the past few years, the City of Abilene has been working to clean up some of these under-resourced neighborhoods in order to help revitalize the community, and empower its residents to help change perceptions surrounding where they live. The Weidner Cares Team painted and repaired two houses in the neighborhood of Abilene, TX. The team replaced siding on the houses which had been damaged by termites and carpenter ants, donated new air conditioning units to the owners and landscaped the yards of both houses. Miss Marie, an Alameda resident for some 60 years, is elderly with a family that lives out of town. She needed help with her lawn in addition to various repairs around the house.
Marie was very happy to take a look at her newly renovated home. "To me, this neighborhood is just as good as the richest neighborhood. It's just memories here and the love that I had here in this house."
Homeowner, Miss Shelly is surviving on a fixed income while caring for her brother who has a disability. Her home received a coat of fresh paint from the Weidner Cares Team as well as exterior landscaping and repairs.
Jerry Heald is Weidner's Regional Maintenance Director for Texas and commented, "A lot of times we get wrapped up in our own world and we do not realize that there's a lot of needs out there. And now we are able to see beyond the horizon of our own lives and see that there are a lot of needs out there and we can give back just a little bit to help in that area."
Thank you to all the volunteers on the Weidner Cares team for your dedication and talent on these important projects. To the City of Abilene and the team at Casa de Amigos, we thank you for the opportunity to make a small difference in these vibrant communities.
– The Weidner Team
What matters to you, matters to us.
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