In 1983, Reverend Doctor Tom Graves, the minister of First United Methodist Church together with a local landowner recognized a growing need for low-income senior housing in Plano, Texas. Plano was a rapidly growing community north of Dallas Texas.  The landowner offered a piece of land, at a reasonable price, that had enough space to support construction of a building.  However, they did not know what to do next.  So Rev. Graves contacted Don Learner an old friend that was the administrator of Dickenson Place, a low-income senior housing facility in Dallas.  Don told them about a HUD program called Section 202/8 that provided funds for the development of low-income housing.

Knowing that they would need more support Rev Graves approached the Ministerial Alliance in the Plano.  From these discussions, a grass roots, community based sponsor called Plano Community Homes Sponsor was created and had one employee, Lee Ann Hubanks who is the current President and CEO.

The first step was to pay for the land.  Working with the City of Plano Don Learner assisted them in applying for its very first Community Development Grant (CDBG).  Plano Community Homes received the first distribution of $125, 000 to purchase the land. In addition, an application was submitted to HUD for a Section 202/8 grant for funding to build 144 apartment units.  HUD was not able to fund all 144 units.  Plano Community Homes did receive $3.2M for 73 unit in 1983.  Plano Community Homes received an additional $2.8M in 1984 for 57 units making the total number of units 130.

Using an Office in 1st United Methodist Church, on the first day that applications could be picked up and before the doors opened, the line for applications stretched from the door, down the parking lot and around the building.  Some of the applicants had arrived as early as 3:00 AM.

Phase I of Plano Community Homes was completed in July 1986.  The 73 units of Plano Community Homes Phase I were fully occupied in three days with a waiting list of 300.  The 57 units of Plano Community Homes Phase II was completed in February 1987 and was fully occupied in three days and still had a waiting list of 300. Plano Community Home received funds of $3.1M in 1993, $3.6M in 1995, and $2.6M in1996, for three buildings in West Plano which opened in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and we still did not meet the demand for low income housing with a waiting list of 200. The West Campus population was so diverse they were awarded both a state Cultural Diversity Award and the National Hobart Jackson Award for Cultural Diversity.

In 2003 Plano Community Home received HUD funding of $6M for 61 apartments for Phase I of Pioneer Place, and received $7.9 in 2008 for 72 units for Pioneer Place Phase II, both located near downtown Plano.

In the fall of 2007, HUD turned to Plano Community Homes and asked us to take over and run two neglected properties, Fairhaven and Fairoaks in Denton, Texas. After struggling to maintain and renovate the Fairhaven property it was closed in the fall of 2009.  The Fairoaks property was renovated to bring it up to code and the grounds were landscaped and is now a beautiful property of six-plexes with porches and flowerbeds for each unit. The Denton properties had a significant impact on our available funds and we are working for donations and grants to help us start another new project.

Just like recognition of the original need for low-income senior housing, our staff has recently identified a need for housing low income senior and post 9/11 traumatic brain injury Veterans. We currently have one additional piece of property in Plano near the Pioneer Place campus designated for a building to assist veterans who are about to run out of housing options or are already homeless. This new facility would also include a Wellness Center for our residents as well as seniors throughout the community at large, with a focus on retired Veterans and newly returning Veterans.

Plano Community Homes has been recognized by HUD with a best practices award, and they trust in our ability to develop and manage low-income senior and mobility impaired housing demonstrated by their request to take over the Denton, Texas properties.  Plano Community Homes has participated in and been recognized by LeadingAge and LeandingAge Texas which are associations of non-profits that provide homes and services for the aging, as a national leader in low-income senior housing.