Carmen Lorentz: LRCD doesn't exploit tenants, rather they empower them

To The Daily Sun,

A recent Facebook post by Sarah Stoppe, a landlord in Ashland, accused Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD) of exploiting vulnerable tenants at Ames Brook Apartments (formerly known as Ledgewood Estates). I’d like to set the record straight.

Ames Brook Apartments was built in 1975 by The Hodges Companies using a federal program that provided financing and rental subsidy, both of which had a 40-year term. As the term neared its expiration, Hodges prepared to sell the property.

We were concerned because the property has always provided housing for people with extremely low income, and that type of housing is in very short supply. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, for every 100 renters with extremely low income in New Hampshire, there are only 39 rental units affordable to them.

LRCD purchased Ames Brook Apartments in 2016 to preserve its affordability for people with extremely low income. We assembled $5 million to renovate the property, which was in poor condition. The project was completed in 2020. Exterior upgrades included a new parking lot; new roofs, windows, and decks; and additional insulation and new siding. Inside, we renovated kitchens and bathrooms, and replaced carpet with hard flooring. We upgraded the fire alarm system and installed a sprinkler system. We converted two of the units into fully ADA compliant apartments, where none were available before.

Tenants are supported by a resident services coordinator who helps them with benefits counseling and enrollment, crisis intervention, conflict mediation and resource brokering. Our Good Neighbor Fund keeps tenants stably housed when they are too sick to work, when their car breaks down, or when there is a death in the family. We built a community garden, and we pay for supplies for community events organized by tenants.

We don’t exploit our tenants. We empower them.

Carmen Lorentz

Laconia