Construction started Tuesday on a long-awaited Oceanside apartment complex for low-income senior citizens.

Financed with about $7 million from the city and about $10 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 80-unit Lil Jackson Senior Community complex is being built by Southern California Presbyterian Homes, said city Housing Program Manager Steve Jackson .

The project is named for longtime Oceanside community volunteer Lil Jackson (no relation to Steve Jackson), who attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the project Tuesday morning. Jackson, now 92, helped establish two Alzheimer's support programs in North County after the disease claimed the life of her husband of more than 40 years.

"This has been a labor of love," Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said about the affordable housing project.

The $17 million complex "will be a precedent for more to come," said Frank Riley, field director of HUD's San Diego regional office.

"There's plenty more seniors in all the areas (of the county) who need this housing." Riley said at the ground-breaking event that was held at the project site on Lake Boulevard just east of College Boulevard.

Sally Little, vice-president of affordable housing for Southern California Presbyterian Homes, said more than 100 people are already on a waiting list for the apartments.

"On a daily basis, we receive e-mails and calls from seniors that are just desperate for housing," Little said.

The one bedroom apartments will be available to people 62 or older, city Neighborhood Services Director Margery Pierce. She said rents will be based on income, with residents expected to pay 30 percent of their earnings.

For a single person, the income limit is $28,900; for a family of two, the income limit is $33,050

The complex will provide housing "for people who just plain couldn't afford to live here otherwise," Steve Jackson said.

Call staff writer Ray Huard at 760-901-4062