Even with all the construction equipment and excavation, it’s not hard to visualize that the house overlooking Post Road in Apponaug has been there a long time.

The place not only has an established “feel” about it, but being on the fringe of a pine grove and a wooded area beyond has a country ambiance. It’s close to the vitality of Apponaug Village – the post office, churches, Warwick Museum of Art and, most important, a couple of coffee shops – yet enough removed from the traffic to feel this could be home.

The Thomas Wilbur Homestead, built originally in 1774 as a Baptist meeting house, already serves as offices for The House of Hope and once construction is completed will also be the site for five new housing units for Rhode Islanders with disabilities.

On Monday, more than two dozen community and business leaders gathered on the lawn overlooking Post Road to break ground for the project that includes renovating an existing carriage house into two single bedroom apartments and construction of a three-unit building in the colonial style of the former meeting house. Each of the apartments is being designed to incorporate comfort, function and to accommodate persons with disabilities. Lower level apartments will be retrofitted to include all necessary Americans with Disabilities Act adaptations.

“This is the largest real estate mogul in Warwick,” Mayor Scott Avedisian joked, as he was welcomed to the podium by Jean Johnson, executive director of The House of Hope. Yet he observed that The House of Hope has provided more than 30 units of housing in the city and is negotiating another property in the Pontiac section of the city. He underscored the need for affordable and safe housing and how The House of Hope has made that a reality.

“There’s good work happening all over the state,” said Johnson. The organization works closely with state agencies, advocacy groups, and community partners to provide options for affordable homes for those who are disabled and disadvantaged.

Many of those partners were represented at Monday’s ceremony including the Housing Resources Commission (HRC), U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), LISC, Corporation for Supportive Housing, the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals, and Rhode Island Housing.

“We are thrilled to be moving forward today with all of our partners by our side,” Johnson said.

In addition to housing, the Thomas Wilbur Homestead will provide a an array of supportive services including case management and counseling, job training and life skills classes, and the services so residents can access improved physical and mental health care.

“This is a valuable example of what we can achieve when we work together for a better future for all Rhode Islanders,” said Richard Godfrey, Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing.

The apartments will be available Rhode Islanders with disabilities and their families, earning up to $21,950 for a family of four. The development is not far from Kent Hospital, Kent County Mental Health Services and many other medical services that can be easily accessed by residents.

“I am proud to join HUD’s committed partners to break ground on such a worthy project,” said Christine Keshura, HUD Providence Multifamily Housing Director in a statement.

“MHRH was pleased to provide Thresholds funding for this project. The mission of the Department to assist individuals with disabilities towards the path to recovery is only possible with safe, affordable housing,” said Craig S. Stenning, Director of the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH).“A decent place to live is one of the cornerstones of anyone’s life and this development helps some of our most vulnerable individuals achieve this goal.”

The lion’s share of funding for the project is a HUD grant of $766,400. Rhode Island Housing invested $275,000 in state HOME funds, the HRC set aside $250,000 in Neighborhood Opportunities Program (NOP) funds and the City of Warwick provided a $40,000 Community Development Block Grant.

Rhode Island Housing and the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals also devoted $280,000 in Thresholds funds to this development. LISC and the Corporation for Supportive Housing provided critical pre-development loans.

Pariseault Builders of Warwick has a $728,803 contract for the project scheduled for completion in August 2010. Remaining sums raised for the project went into land acquisition and engineering and design costs.