Highlighting the need for affordable housing in town, the Wareham Free Library ran out of seats at an information session for the new Retreat at Union Pond.

"I didn't expect so many people," admitted Jo-Anne Dwyer, Vice President of Housing Administration at Gatehouse Development, the owner of the development.  "There really is a good need for it in Wareham."

The information session detailed the apartments available for rent and the development's amenities, the income requirements for residents, and the lottery by which tenants will be selected.

The development, when completed with its first phase, will have 104 one- two-, and three-bedroom units with Whirlpool appliances, ceramic tile, ceiling fans, Berber carpeting, washers and dryers in some units and hookups in others, and decorator-designed kitchens.  The units are wired for FiOS TV, internet, and phone.

Rents for the majority of the apartments are set at rates deemed to be "affordable" for those making 60 percent of the area median income.  This translates to $895 per month for a 665-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment  (of which there are 22 available), $995 per month for a 945-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment (48 available), and $1195 per month for a 1195-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment (23 available).  Gas and electric are not included.

In addition, eleven apartments have rents deemed affordable for those making 30 percent of the area median income.  Four one-bedroom apartments will rent for $394 per month.  Four two-bedroom units will rent for $456 per month, and three three-bedroom apartments will rent for $512 per month. The square footage for these units is the same.  Ground-floor handicap-accessible apartments are also available.

To qualify for these apartments, tenants must meet federal income restrictions.  These range considerably, but a single person making between $11,820 and $19,290 per year can qualify for one of the one-bedroom apartments with rents set at the 30-percent of area median income rate.  A family of six can make up $63,900 per year for a three-bedroom apartment with rent set at 60 percent of area median income rate.

Eligible and interested tenants will be selected through a lottery process with two "pools" of applicants: a local pool and an open pool.

All Wareham residents as well as municipal employees, employees of Wareham businesses, and households with children attending Wareham schools, are placed in the local pool.

The lottery period lasts from August 19 to October 18.  At the end of this period, the local pool will be used first for filling the apartments.

There is a caveat, however.  Because it uses federal money, the development has a goal of a minimum of 20.5 percent of residents who identify as a minority.  If the local pool does not meet this goal, then minority applicants (identified as American Indian; Alaskan Native; Asian; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian; or other Pacific Islander; Hispanic or Latino; persons with disabilities, in accordance with federal classifications established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)) will be pulled from the open pool.

Applicants will then be ranked depending on the number of household members and the number of bedrooms that the applicant has requested.  The HUD standard seeks to put two persons per bedroom to meet full occupancy rates - "we are looking to house the people who need it the most and who maximize the space," said Dwyer -  although they recognized that that may not always be possible for certain family's situations.  There are requirements, however, that each bedroom have at least one occupant and no more than two.

After many questions were asked and answered about the apartments and process  (some pets may be allowed, and there are 1.5 parking spaces per apartment, for instance), the majority of the attendees formed a line to set up appointments to meet with the developers and discuss tenancy.

"I'm looking for a better environment and a good housing for my daughter," said Marjorie Bowman, who lives in the Woods at Wareham but feels it is getting unsafe.    "It looks good, it sounds good...we'll see what happens."