Latest news with #HOME-ARP
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
KCDC honored in D.C. for veterans housing development in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Liberty Place in West Knoxville has earned a national honor for helping veterans. The 32-unit housing site was recognized by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC) received the Outstanding Partnership Award during the group's annual conference in Washington, D.C. The award honors groups that demonstrate creativity and collaboration. Liberty Place, which opened in November, provides permanent housing for homeless veterans. It features solar panels, ADA units, and on-site VA support. More than 25 local groups helped furnish and support the residents. This is also KCDC's first housing site dedicated specifically to veterans. Five injured after EF-0 tornado in Loudon County 'Liberty Place would not have been possible without the partnerships that were built at all levels and phases of development, ranging from local, state and federal agencies to nonprofits and community members,' KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. 'Liberty Place is a success because of these collaborations and is an example of how developments can and should work within our community to support homeless veterans.' The project was made possible with help from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Knoxville Homeless Management Information System, local Volunteers of America, and The McNabb Center. Funding for the $15 million project included $2 million in federal funds, $500,000 from affordable housing funds from the City of Knoxville, $7.1 million in tax credits from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), and $1 million from the HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP). Additionally, the land for the site was donated by Knox County. Veterans Voices: Hear the stories of those who served KCDC worked with local partners to stock the residents' kitchens before a significant snowstorm that was predicted shortly before the opening, and these partners continue to provide monthly food donations to the residents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apartments for homeless, mentally ill planned at former Camp Shameless in Columbus
In September 2022, Columbus cleared a homeless camp called Camp Shameless on the Near East Side despite small protests on the front lawns of city officials' homes, including that of City Council President Shannon Hardin. Hardin acknowledged to The Dispatch that the camp removal was traumatic for the homeless residents, many of whom were moved into motels. He said it was a tough moment for a council that cares about the dignity of all people and getting people housed. Now, Hardin says Columbus City Council is responding to residents' advocacy by supporting the construction of permanent supportive housing for people struggling with homelessness. The housing will be located on the former location of Camp Shameless at 897 E. Mound St. "This legislation is a big deal," Hardin said. "We as a city are meeting the ask of the advocates and we are working to fill a growing gap ... I am so proud of this project and we have to do more like this." Back in 2022, advocates with First Collective, the operator of Camp Shameless, called on the city to put housing on the empty lot owned at the time by the Columbus Land Bank, according to Hardin. Some told The Dispatch at the time they'd like to see tiny homes built. On Monday, the Columbus City Council unanimously approved using federal dollars to allocate $2.75 million toward the construction of 110 one bedroom, one bathroom apartments at two permanent supportive housing projects: a 50-apartment project called Knoll View Place at the former Camp Shameless location on Mound Street, and a 60-apartment project called Scioto Rise Place at 42 W. Jenkins Ave. Both will be three-story buildings. Residents making between nothing and 30% of the area median income will be able to access the apartments. The majority of the apartments will go to people who were formerly unhoused and the rest will go to individuals who struggle with severe mental illness and are at risk of becoming homeless or institutionalized. The money comes from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program funded by the American Rescue Plan called HOME-ARP. At a future meeting, the council will vote on spending about $1 million more of HOME-ARP funding for four years of supportive services for residents at these two locations. Community Housing Network is building these two projects and will provide the services, including crisis intervention, conflict resolution, daily assistance and referrals to other agencies for other needs like medical and dental help. Ryan Castle, chief real estate development officer with Community Housing Network, said CHN starts with housing because it meets a basic need, and then people can begin addressing other issues in their lives that make stability challenging. Castle said Knoll View Place will cost about $16.9 million in total to build and Scioto Rise Place will cost about $19.3 million. CHN will get the rest of the funding from other sources, including federal tax credits. Advocates with First Collective did not respond to The Dispatch's request for comment Monday. About 20 people lived at Camp Shameless for about six months in 2022. First Collective volunteers aided the residents. The city decided to clear the camp after First Collective began building a wooden structure cemented into the ground on the property. In other action Monday, Council voted to allocate about $100,000 of HUD dollars to support the construction of a single-family home on Eureka Avenue in the Hilltop to be sold to a first-time buyer earning 80% or less of the area median income. More city hall news: City stepping in after DOGE funding freeze hits tree planting efforts Government and Politics Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Supportive housing planned at former homeless camp site in Columbus
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reading City Council tables a $2.89 million grant for housing for shelter clients
City Council has deferred a decision on the allocation of funds for affordable housing for working adults and families currently living in shelters. Council voted 4-2 at a special meeting Tuesday to table a resolution that would allocate $2.89 million in HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Act, or HOME-ARP, funds to Opportunity House for the acquisition of a property at 100 S. Fourth St. Councilmembers Vanessa Campos and Rafael Nunez cast the dissenting votes. Councilman Jaime Baez Jr. was absent. Council previously tabled action on the allocation and requested additional information at its regular meeting Feb. 10. The special meeting was scheduled for further discussion and possible action on the proposal. The city received $3.5 million in HOME-ARP money about three years ago, Jamar Kelly, city finance, deputy managing and acting community development director, said Wednesday. The funds administered by the federal office of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, are earmarked to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability. 'When the city received the award, we had to go through a community engagement process,' Kelly said. As part of that process, Kelly said, some of the money was set aside for support services and workforce development programs for the city's unhoused population. The remaining $2.9 million, he said, was allocated for affordable housing as part of an action plan council approved in 2022. Only one organization, Opportunity House, which operates a shelter at 430 N. Second St., responded to the city's request for proposals, Kelly said. Modesto Fiume, executive director of the nonprofit, said the organization looked at three other properties before agreeing to buy the 20-unit apartment building on South Fourth Street from Dream Ventures PA II LLC, an entity of the Brooklyn development company, Heights Advisors. Council previously approved plans for the building with the understanding it would become market-rate apartments, Councilman O. Christopher Miller said. He and some other council members expressed concerns about removing the building from the tax roll should it be bought by the nonprofit. The Brooklyn entity also has plans for apartment projects at 601 Penn St. and the former Central Catholic High School building on Hill Road. Reading City Council will not appeal zoning board's decision to allow apartments in former school Opportunity House has a lease with the developer for the temporary operation of an emergency shelter in a former convent building on Eckert Avenue. Opportunity House to reopen temporary shelter in former convent in Reading Fiume said the South Fourth Street building would have 20 one- and two-bedroom units that could be rented to those below the median income level who have been stuck living in the shelter because they cannot afford market rates for rentals. The targeted tenants would include those working at low-paying jobs and others, such as the elderly or disabled who receive Social Security income or disability insurance. Miller and Councilwomen Melissa Ventura and Vanessa Campos said they were unaware of the project until the resolution was presented last week. Council only received supplemental documents and information a few hours before the meeting Tuesday, they said, not enough time to thoroughly review it. 'I would appreciate in the future for some of us who have full-time jobs to have a little bit more lead time to be able to review,' Miller said. 'I felt I was being inundated four hours before the meeting, and there was just no way that I could read everything to prepare for tonight.' Miller also raised concerns about the safety of the property. City Solicitor Fred Lachat said the building was deemed safe and received a certificate of occupancy from the city's building inspector. Kelly said he needed to defend the city staff involved with the project. 'I get the concern about the timing, that's very legitimate,' he said, 'but casting blanket aspersions on all of our code and building officials can't stand without some pushback.' Council members also asked for more involvement in this and other projects using public funding. Kelly said obtaining council's approval for the project is not a HUD requirement but is needed due to a condition council placed in its 2022 approval of the HOME-ARP action plan. Some council members also had concerns about the appraisal process and called for an independent appraisal, something Lachat and Jack Gombach, city managing director, said would be an unnecessary expense for the city. After initially refusing to disclose the appraised value of the property in a public meeting, Fiume, at the urging of Councilman Wesley Butler and others, said the building was appraised by a Lehigh Valley area appraiser at $3.3 million. After discussing the proposal for more than an hour, council voted 5-1 to amend the motion to approve the allocation with the condition an independent appraisal is done by the city. Campos voted against the amendment. Following approval of the amendment, council voted to table the resolution. Council is expected to vote on the resolution at its Feb. 24 meeting.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Horry County awarding funds to groups tackling homelessness
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County is looking to award two non-profits with funding to support those without homes. It's through the HOME-ARP funding which spans across Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties. The Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center supports our veteran population in a variety of ways. But one of them is by getting them off the streets and into a warm place, they get to call home. The county wants to award more than three million dollars to local organizations. One of them is the Eastern Carolina Housing Organization and the other is the VWHRC. CEO Scott Dulebohn says it's a good feeling to even be considered for this type of funding. 'They see what we're doing,' he said. 'We're filling a huge gap that's there. Our people care. We show up 24, seven if a veteran struggling, and we make sure that the money gets used wisely and it gets used effectively.' The non-profit recently welcomed more than two dozen veterans into their tiny home village in Myrtle Beach but was seeking about a million dollars to build phase two. Phase two would consist of eight duplexes and a resource center including a day room, kitchen and laundry room. But because the property sits on a flood plain, Horry County is recommending only $75 thousand for supportive services. Dulebohn says while it's disappointing, they still plan to use that money to support 2,000 people in need. 'We'll keep working the process,' he said. 'We'll continue to apply. It was all set up and on the blueprints for phase two. So we're hoping that we can talk with some folks and get the thing rolling along so that way the veterans have the resources that they deserve down there.' The resolution still needs to get the green light from Horry County Council, but if all goes well, they would get the funds by this spring. * * * Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
