On a small side street just outside the city limits of Lexington, Tenn., you will find Woodland Homes nestled among the pine trees. With a population of nearly 8,000, Lexington is a small, quiet community in which to retire, and Woodland Homes provides affordable senior housing to 60 residents. Managed by Wesley Living, Woodland Homes has provided seniors aged 62 and older with affordable, low-income housing since 1981 as a HUD Section 202/8 property and recently as a 202/8 and LITHC property.
The staff at Woodland Homes are dedicated to serving the residents of Woodland Homes. They do not shy away from their commitment to the residents. The current manager and service coordinator joined the team in 2017, and even though the maintenance technician has only been at Woodland Homes since 2022, his passion and dedication are evident every time he steps on the property.
The service coordinator is a licensed registered nurse who obtained the Professional Service Coordinator certification from the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC). She is active with the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program and has been recognized as the 2023 Service Coordinator of the Year by SAHMA. She is a member of the Health Council for Henderson County where she stays informed of the health initiatives for the area. She works with the Henderson County Homeless Coalition and the local churches helping to provide donations to those residents in need. In 2021, the manager and service coordinator were recognized as the AASC Property Team of the Year. The manager is part of the SAHMA Excellence in Management program and has obtained the CPO, FHC and SHCM certifications.
The staff at Woodland Homes are dedicated to providing as much fun and information to the residents as possible to keep them active. On any given day, you may walk in and find the residents playing bingo, having potlucks, getting blood pressure checks, scheduling game nights, enjoying holiday parties, including costume contests for Halloween, or crafts like embroidery. The residents receive information on managing finances, dementia and Alzheimer’s support, spiritual guidance, fitness and health, and so much more. The staff is very hands-on with the residents.
When they are not participating in the group activities, they work one-on-one with residents to ensure they have the resources needed to keep them living a healthy, independent lifestyle.
One of the best services provided to the residents at Woodland Homes is a resident bus. This bus takes residents grocery shopping to the bank, post office, pharmacy, library, Social Security Office, other offices, and other local stores and shops. One of the best trips the staff and residents undertook was traveling to Florence, Ala., so the residents could experience eating at a Golden Corral restaurant.
The staff works as a team to provide several services to the residents. They have an on-site pantry to assist residents with food when needed. They have partnered with a local church to provide monthly meals. The residents had the opportunity to sign up for a Senior Computer Program, where they received a free tablet upon completing the program. If there is anything available for the residents at Woodland Homes, this staff will find it and utilize it to the fullest.
Going back to the actual property itself, Woodland Homes was long overdue for a facelift and some upgrading to ensure it will continue to be an asset to the senior population of Lexington and remain a place they could retire and call home. The property was awarded LIHTCs for a $9 million rehabilitation. Additionally, Woodland Homes was awarded a Green and Resilient Retrofit Program Elements grant for $750,000. The entire project was completed in 2024.
This rehabilitation included serval projects that enhanced the lives of the residents. The property has several buildings located further away from the main community building. A building was added to house an additional laundry facility to accommodate those residents. Now, they don’t have to gather their laundry and bring it to the main building. The community room was expanded, too, and can accommodate all 60 residents for the numerous activities planned throughout the year. A library was included in the expansion of the community building and was outfitted with a swivel tabletop to allow residents to work jigsaw puzzles easily. Probably the most anticipated part of the expansion was the inclusion of a theater complete with an 85-inch smart TV, surround sound, and who could forget the popcorn and hot dog machines! Other amenities added were a private computer room and a fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise equipment designed specifically for the senior population. Residents also have access to an exercise physiologist who can assist in creating workout routines to fit their specific needs. The community building was also outfitted with 55-kw solar panels with a battery backup and a 100-kw natural gas generator to ensure residents have a cool or warm place to go during extended power outages due to storms. Finally, the entire property now has Wi-Fi for residents to use at no additional cost.
Inside the units, the kitchen now has low or no formaldehyde cabinetry, a microwave/vent hood combination, and ice makers. The new cabinets are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant height and are adaptable to accommodate residents using wheelchairs. High-efficiency centralized heating and air conditioning with programmable thermostats were installed, as were Energy Star-rated appliances, LED lighting, ceramic tile flooring, shower surrounds in the bathrooms, low-flow toilets, water-saving showerheads and faucets, and new vanities.
Outside, residents can enjoy a newly built gazebo, freshly paved streets, parking areas and EV charging stations. The exterior of the units also received hardy board siding, a fresh coat of paint, new shutters, exterior doors, thermal windows, and new roofs. Additional insulation was also placed in the attic spaces for added energy efficiency. The front stoops were also raised and are now level with the front door, so residents do not have to step up to enter their units. In front of the community room are new mailboxes with a covered awning and several sections of new sidewalks.
Woodland Homes is one of many properties with Wesley Living that work alongside Golden Cross Senior Ministries. Woodland Homes has a homeless preference, and applicants usually move in with little or nothing. In working with the Golden Cross, homeless applicants begin their fresh start as residents with a move-in kit, which contains everything needed to set up a home, from linens to kitchen housewares and at the time of move-in, staff have already coordinated with Golden Cross to have furniture delivered and set up in their new apartment. If food is an issue, the food pantry on-site can provide residents with dry goods to get them started and gift cards to a local grocery store to purchase 30 days’ worth of perishable items.
Being a resident at Woodland Homes doesn’t just mean you have a place to live. It means you have a family. Whether it’s the neighbor next door you play bingo with or the maintenance tech changing your light bulb, there is always someone you can count on. Through the celebrations and the heartaches, the residents and staff at Woodland Homes can always be expected to come together as one and as a family.