NEWS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:
February 6, 2002
Patrick Higgins, National Church Residences, 273-3514
Paul H. Coleman, Maryhaven, 445-8131
NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
COLUMBUS, OHIO— National
Church Residences and Maryhaven are announcing plans for a joint venture to
develop a new affordable housing community on the southeast side of
Columbus. The partnership would
combine Maryhaven’s expertise in supportive services with National Church
Residences’ extensive property management experience. The venture would be part of
the Rebuilding Lives plan to provide
housing for long-term homeless men coordinated by the Community Shelter
Board. The proposed location is
outside the I-270 freeway on the southeast side of Columbus at 4501 Refugee
Road, near the intersection of Hamilton Road.
The two agencies plan to create an attractive, high-quality apartment
development combining housing and supportive services for low-income and
formerly homeless residents.
A total of 84 apartment units would be built, with 44 units in multiple
buildings and 40 units in a single building for formerly homeless men and
women.
"National Church Residences is pleased to offer its considerable
expertise toward the development of Walnut Banks,” said Thomas W. Slemmer,
President and CEO of National Church Residences. “Our 40 years expertise
in the development and management of affordable senior and family housing should
complement this very worthy project. The coupling of housing and
supportive services has met with great success at many of our 215
nationwide
communities. The need for quality, affordable housing on a
national level
is great, and NCR is excited about the opportunity to, yet
again, extend its
outreach to our Central Ohio home base."
Supportive services at the
proposed development would be provided by Maryhaven, with over 35 years of
successful experience as the largest and most comprehensive provider of recovery
services for central Ohio residents.
A number of support services would be available for residents of the
building serving formerly homeless men and women, including case management and
employment services.
“Maryhaven is pleased at
this opportunity to support our mission of helping people restore their lives by
providing a safe and secure environment
where men and women who have previously received services at the
Engagement Center can live,” said Paul H. Coleman, President and CEO of
Maryhaven. “The Engagement Center
consistently refers about one third of the men and two thirds of the women who
come to us for help into treatment.
A major barrier that these patients encounter upon discharge is finding a
safe and secure place to live, and Walnut Banks will help fill that need.”
National
Church Residences and Maryhaven are conducting community outreach to advise the
surrounding property owners and neighbors about Walnut Banks, and seek input
into development design. An Open
House discussion will be held later in February for the community to learn more
about the proposed development. The
partners hope to submit funding applications in March for the real estate
purchase and
construction. If funding is
approved, the building could be open by July of 2004. Applications to the Rebuilding Lives
Funder Collaborative and other sources would then be made for the supportive
services component.
The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.
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