Aside from food and drink, having a place to sleep is the most fundamental human need. The reality is that not every person has the ability to obtain a home and instead must look for other options. One of those options in Platte County, is the Housing Authority in Wheatland. Located at 1605 16th Street (next to Bomgaars and Services for Seniors) are 28 housing units available to those who are 62 years of age, or older.
Although the units are owned by Platte County, management of that facility is delegated to a board of directors made up of five individuals, each of whom serve a term of five years. Those currently serving on that board of directors are Carolyn Teter, Jennifer Burns, Jaime Hazen, Sarah Taylor and Darrel Curry. Those volunteers provide oversite and direction of the facility to ensure senior citizens have affordable, dignified and safe housing. That board employs Deanna Brant, who is the longtime executive director of Platte County Housing Authority.
The Platte County Housing Authority is also assisted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Although being assisted by HUD requires that the Housing Authority follow certain federal rules and standards, it allows those who qualify to receive assistance. For example, those who qualify have 30% of their rent and utilities paid by HUD. To qualify, tenants must be 62 years of age and older and meet certain income requirements. To learn more about living at Platte County Housing Authority please visit with Deanna Brant by calling (307)322-2373.

How is the facility funded? Although the facility is owned by Platte County, the Housing Authority Board does not receive a single dime of taxpayer funds to operate. Instead, the facility is funded solely on the rent it charges for those 28 units. That presents difficulties, however. The Housing Authority Board faces the same obstacles we do in our personal lives: higher costs of services. This includes increased utility rates, insurance rates and maintenance costs.
Additionally, the Board must remain a competitive employer for its director, secretarial staff and maintainers. Despite those increased costs, the Board knows its residents have limited resources and increases in rent could mean senior citizens are not able to afford their apartments.
That difficult balance has required the board to have difficult conversations and make stressful decisions. In fact, at times employees of the facility have opted to delay being paid until there was sufficient cash on hand to be paid. The dedication of those volunteer board members and each of the staff members at Platte County Housing Authority is unmatched. In the end, that dedication and those difficult decisions mean senior citizens have secure, comfortable and safe housing.
The board does work closely with Services for Seniors, whose building is located on ground owned by the county and managed by the Housing Authority. The agreement between Services for Seniors and the Housing Authority provides the authority with funding to maintain the parking lot and clear snow. It is an important partnership between two organizations dedicated to the welfare of seniors in our county.
Being on the Housing Authority Board is a big job and is completely a volunteer position. If you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to attend a meeting of the board, which is held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Housing Authority office. If you would like to serve on this board, or any appointed by the County Commissioners, you can always reach out to the County Clerk’s Office to get a board member application or go online to https://www.plattecountywyoming.com/boards-members.