Winter Fall 2025 Newsletter - Flipbook - Page 6
Asbury Arms
By Chris Gunnells, Board Member
Asbury Arms is a development of
apartments that is located in West
Columbia behind Lexington
Medical Center. It provides
affordable and safe rental housing
for senior citizens. On the property
there is a total of 54 one-story
apartments (38 one-bedroom and
16 studio) in 15 buildings and a
separate clubhouse for socializing
and events. Southern Development
Management Co., Inc. oversees the
property and keeps it well
maintained, and there are paved
walkways and benches throughout
the attractively manicured
development.
This development came about in the
1980s when 18 United Methodist
Churches in the Columbia District
joined to form the District Elderly
Housing Committee to show their
concern for additional housing for the
retired and elderly people in the
Columbia area. Virginia Wingard
Memorial UMC was one of the original
18 churches that worked hard to
initiate this project. Six more churches
came on board before the
construction began. A HUD Section
202 loan was secured to finance the
construction of Asbury Arms, and
Section 8 of the government program
provides rental subsidies for those
whose income does not meet a fixed
income level.
Killingsworth Needs Your Help
By Ned Wallace, Board Member of Killingsworth
The Killingsworth Home for Women assists
women recovering from various life crises
which may include alcohol and drug abuse,
incarceration, mental and emotional issues,
violence, assault and other family crisis
situations.
The Killingsworth Home is more than a
boarding residence. Killingsworth serves as
a safe, nurturing Christian environment that
offers a specialized ministry for the women
residents.
The goal at Killingsworth is to continue
transforming the lives of the residents,
giving hope to the women who are in crisis
so that they can make a difference in the
community.
Fund raising is the primary way that we are
able to maintain this home for the women in
need. Our Annual Gala is a fund raising
event for Killingsworth, but we also rely
heavily on donations from individuals,
churches and other organizations.
The women residents are required to work
and they pay for their room and board. The
amount that they pay, however, is limited to
an amount that the women can afford.
Killingsworth is currently in need of
additional donations. Monetary challenges
continue as the rising costs of services and
products create barriers to meeting both
normal operating funds and some specific
monetary challenges. Each of us can
recognize that we may have these similar
challenges in our own lives.
Some of our immediate challenges are the
need for housing repairs, normal
maintenance, preventive maintenance and
rising costs of ongoing care and basic living
expenses.
One specific need currently is to repair
several bathroom shower leaks. The 17
residents have three bathrooms, however,
two of the bathrooms right now have very
limited availability. The cost to make these
repairs to the showers is estimated at just
under $10,000.
The future of Asbury Arms is uncertain.
Currently there are 4 churches of the 24 that
remain with the District Elderly Housing
Development Corp. Some churches left this
organization after COVID, and the others
voted to leave the UMC. The repayment of
the 40-year loan for Asbury Hills is nearing
the time when it will be paid in full. The
property will be owned by the District Elderly
Housing Development Corp. Cost of
property maintenance and other matters
could present a hardship for only 4
churches. The Board of Directors meets
annually each March. In addition to the
annual meeting in 2023 and 2024, the Board
met several times to discuss the future of
Asbury Arms by trying to find a large
property on which to build homes to
relocate current residents and to provide
housing for more people. This plan was
placed on hold at the March 2025 meeting
because of the future uncertainty of
securing a new loan through HUD. Until the
loan is repaid, Asbury Arms will remain
