Polishing The Brass

Jewish Federation Apartments is ensuring a healthy
future by getting into the fund-raising business.

JULIE EDGAR STAFF WRITER

ewish Federation Apart-
ments relies very little on
the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit for its
funding, even though it serves 30
percent of the older Jewish pop-
ulation that is in need of services.
Only 2.5 percent of its budget
comes from Federation, and that
pays for food and Russian-lan-
guage translators.
"We've always been Federa-
tion's biggest bang for the buck,"
says JFA President Gerald
Brody.
That's not a complaint against
Federation; rather, it's a boast by
an organization that takes pride
in the businesslike way it runs
its operation.
"We think of ourselves as a
business with social service re-
sponsibilities. Unlike other Jew-
ish agencies, JFA started as a
business and grew a conscience,"
Mr. Brody said. JFA recently cel-
ebrated its 30th birthday.
Nevertheless, JFA sees the
proverbial writing on the wall:

j

With federal budget cuts loom-
ing, it's essential that it start
fund-raising on its own.
Late next year, JFA will lose
its Congregate Housing Services
Program money, a five-year fed-
eral grant that provides $85,000
annually for housekeeping,
transportation and weekend
meal service for the 664 residents
in JFA buildings. The money has
been matched by JFA.
And while the program will re-
main in place for at least a year,
HUD Housing Assistance Pay-
ments contracts that subsidize
rent for JFA residents are begin-
ning to expire. However, says JFA
Executive Director Marsha Gold-
smith Kamin, her counterparts
in other regions of the country are
telling her the government is re-
newing them.
But Supplemental Security In-
come benefits, including food
stamps, for legal immigrants will
dry up in August. Ms. Goldsmith
Kamin said she is confident that
a set-aside fund established by

Federation for just these cases Federation dollars, JFA raises
funds through private donors and
will make up for the losses.
Four of five JFA apartment through tributes and interest in-
complexes are subsidized by the come from various endowments.
"One of my primary goals as
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development. Hechtman president was fund-raising," Mr.
II, the newest building on the Brody said, noting that he au-
thorized the hiring of
Jewish Community
a development direc-
Campus in West
tor who is pursuing
Bloomfield, provides
grant monies. This
housing for mostly
year, JFA charged
private-pay resi-
admission to the
dents. The waiting
Eight Over Eighty
lists for the buildings
ceremony, an annu-
range from one to
al event which hon-
seven years, and
ors seniors who have
turnover is about 10
shown extraordinary
percent annually.
merit.
The average age of
JFA is also in the
JFA residents is 80.
process of setting up
On Monday, West
a Friends of JFA
Bloomfield Township
auxiliary that would
trustees approved a
also serve to raise
zoning amendment
funds for the organi-
that paves the way
zation.
for JFA to build twin
apartment complex-
The goal, Mr.
es on the Jewish
Brody said, is to be-
come self-sufficient,
Community Campus
in West Bloomfield. Gerald Brody:
to "live off interest in-
come, to provide in-
After JFA gets ap- Self-sufficiency.
home care and food,
proval for the project
from Federation and the town- and not seek money from Feder-
ship's Planning Commission, it ation.
will look for financing. Mr. Brody
"JFA has been very proactive,
said the first building could be so these obstacles down the road
ready for occupancy in two years. don't become insurmountable,"
To supplement its federal and he said.

This year, JFA started a non-
profit company, JCare Inc., to
provide in-home personal services
like meal preparation, personal
hygiene care and medicine re-
minders to JFA residents. So far,
the venture is at the break-even
point.
JCare, Mr. Brody pointed out,
is but one of the services that will
enable residents to age in place
— JFA's primary goal. ❑

Publicity
Deadlines

The normal deadline for
local news and publicity
items is noon Thursday,
eight days prior to issue
date. The deadline for
out-of-town obituaries is
10 a.m. Tuesday, three
days prior to issue date.
All material must be
typewritten, double-
spaced, on 8 1/2x 11 paper
and include the name
and daytime telephone
number of sender.

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