While we spend a lot of time focusing on the growing shortage of affordable housing in Ohio, it’s important to recognize that there are new developments and rehabilitation projects that make home a reality for some of the most vulnerable residents in our state. Here are a few that caught our eye in recent months.
Community Housing Network recently opened this supportive housing development to serve Columbus residents who are struggling with homelessness and a severe mental health diagnosis. CHN will serve as owner, developer and property manager of the new three-story apartment building with 40 units. Thirty-one units will be affordable to residents at or below 50% area median income, 8 units will be affordable to those below 30% AMI and one unit will be reserved for resident management.
This development leveraged multiple funding sources including nearly $772,000 from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and $267,000 in Low Income Housing Tax Credits. All affordable units will receive new Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers. The lot, purchased from the City of Columbus Land Bank, is within walking distance of many amenities and is in an area of “moderate opportunity.”
NHP Senior, Inc and partners including Clark County Housing Partners and Buckeye Community Hope Foundation recently opened this affordable senior housing development in Springfield based on a “pocket neighborhood” development concept – small pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. Other partners include the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, City of Springfield, NeighborWorks America and RiverHills Bank. The Clark County Combined Health District, in conjunction with the project, is redeveloping an existing building to house a nurse practitioner health clinic provided by Community Mercy Health Partners, to be located in a building adjacent to the project site.
The project received about $300,000 from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and $800,000 in LIHTC. Other funding sources include a Neighborworks Grant, HOME, and OHFA Flex Loan. It received consideration in the Exceptional Development category for creative design, and is estimated to generate $639,450 in energy savings during the 15-year compliance period.
Audubon Crossing is a new 50-unit development for seniors located within the Riverdale Neighborhood in Dayton. Five units will be affordable to households at or below 30% of the AMI, 20 units will be at 50% of the AMI, and the remaining 25 units will be at 60% of the AMI. Supportive Services will be provided through Senior Resource Connection and Greater Dayton Premier Management’s (GDPM) Family Self Sufficiency Department.
The facility, developed by GDPM and Woda Cooper Companies, included $750,000 from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and $380,000 in LIHTC. participates in the Ohio’s Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program for people with disabilities. It was constructed on the last remaining parcel of the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority’s (d.b.a. Greater Dayton Premier Management) Salem Crossing HOPE VI site. GDPM is contributing unused Replacement Housing Factor Funds for the construction. As such, 22 of the 50 units are operated as public housing units and will receive rental assistance.
