Mercy Housing and Maricopa County on Thursday marked the opening of Cascolote, a 148-unit affordable housing complex in Glendale aimed at seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. A Mercy Housing representative said Maricopa County contributed $9,500,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to help build the development.

The project is designed to address rising rents and a growing senior homelessness risk in Maricopa County. A Maricopa County official cited the county’s point-in-time count, via the Maricopa Association of Governments, saying about 21 percent of seniors are “falling into homelessness or experiencing it for the first time.” The speaker framed Cascolote as a prevention measure.

“We have our grand opening for the Cascolote, which is a 148 units of senior affordable housing in the city of Glendale,” a Mercy Housing representative said. The development is intended to serve seniors, people with disabilities and veterans, and will include on-site services to help residents remain housed.

The Mercy Housing representative said the resident services program will focus on five program areas, including health and wellness, housing success, financial well-being and community engagement; the speaker did not specify the fifth program area. Mercy Housing also said it is partnering with La Frontera to provide mental and behavioral health resources on site.

A resident and veteran who recently moved into Cascolote said the lower rent has made a material difference. “There’s about $400 a month difference in rent, and that’s a lot of money. It gives me extra food, extra milk,” the resident said. The same resident, describing his military service, said living at Cascolote made him feel more included: “I have a voice. I’m not just sitting in the background.”

Project partners and on-site providers were identified during the opening remarks, but no further funding breakdown, funding term limits or long-term operating subsidy details were provided during the remarks. Officials did not specify the full list of the five resident-service program areas or the effective date for resident move-ins beyond comments that some residents, including veterans, had already moved in.