by Jolene Toves
Guam - It's one of the few elderly housing units in Guam and its in desperate need of repairs.
Guma Trankilidat is home for 88-year old Rose Sosa. Built 32 years ago, Sosa has been living in a one bedroom unit here for the past two decades. But like many residents, Sosa says Guma Trankidat is falling apart.
"We need pest control we have some rodents cockroach ants sometimes they come in the house I see one rodent last night I said whoa big rodent," she said. "The parking lot also sometimes we have problems with the parking lot I had suggested to the manager before that handicap elderly should be more closer."
The elderly housing units are overseen by the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority. In October of last year a capital needs assessment was conducted on Guma Trankilidat to determine what improvements need to be made in order to extend the life of the units for the next twenty years. Some of the findings revealed the need to replace hardware for unit doors, remodeling entrance doors for easier accessibility, replacing accessible parking signs and remodeling access ramps with handrails for safety.
The report also suggested the installation of $10,000 worth of security cameras. Better security is something Sosa agrees is needed, saying, "We need it this laundry maybe a couple of months ago was vandalized they took all the coins from the washing machine some of us here thank God I was not yet robbed but mostly were already robbed."
According to GHURA executive director Michael Duenas his agency has determined that about $2 million will be needed to ensure the 50 homes, community center, common areas, laundry facility and parking areas receive the necessary repairs, but where the funding will come from remains to be seen. Duenas says the GHURA board is expected to discuss the issue at their next meeting.
