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Crawford Apartments Open in Bloomington, Indiana

A new construction 25 unit supportive housing development called Crawford Apartments opened in Bloomington, IN on September 6th to a full house of new tenants, neighbors, and champions. Mayor Mark Kruzan welcomed the community to the grand opening of this development serving people who have faced chronic homelessness. All tenants were selected by using a vulnerability index to ensure that those with the greatest needs were screened into housing. Please click here to view additional pictures of Crawford Apartments and the Ribbon Cutting event for this development.

Crawford Apartments was named in honor of Mr. Franklin "Road Dog" Crawford. Those who knew Frank enjoyed his sense of humor and lively spirit. Cycling between the local hospital and streets, Frank suffered from many ailments and would have been an ideal tenant for this apartment complex. It was only discovered that Frank had passed away when a neighbor found his body in a dumpster. He had literately been thrown away. A group of providers joined together with a mission to never allow this to happen to anyone else in South Central IN by developing supportive housing for vulnerable individuals who have been on the streets for a very long time.

This team is led by LifeDesigns (developer) and the Shalom Center (supportive service provider) and includes Milestone Ventures (development consultant), Hayes Gibson International (property manager), Bloomington Housing Authority, IU Hospital, Positive Link, Kurt Buehler, a member of Genesis Church and community leader with a passion for serving those with the greatest barriers. This group completed the Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Institute in 2011 and received a Pre-development Initiation Loan from CSH.

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Having developed quality affordable housing over the past six years, LifeDesigns opted to lend their experience to this worthwhile project. Executive Director, Susan Rinne, stated that "over the course of our involvement in the Supportive Housing Institute and planning for the project we became aware of the efficacy of this model and the high level of need in our community. We were pleased to be able to be part of the solution and this wonderful team of agencies and individuals working toward ending homelessness here in south central Indiana." She went on to say that "the Apartments will provide safe, affordable housing to a very vulnerable group of people. And when they have that along with greater access to services, we know will save our community money that can be redirected to other needs. A win, win that will ultimately improve the whole community."

Rodney Stockment, Indiana Housing Community Development Authority Research and Innovation Senior Associate had this to say: "Crawford Apartments is leading the way in developing a “Housing First” supportive housing development. Housing First represents a significant paradigm shift in addressing the costly phenomenon of homelessness. This strategy demonstrates impressive outcomes when people are supported in a permanent, housed environment, rather than targeted for intensive services in shelters or streets. Crawford Apartments will have a huge impact on individuals with long histories of homelessness by providing them with stable housing and access to services. Crawford Apartments happened because of the passion and courage the team has to provide the most vulnerable among us housing and dignity."

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CSH is proud to have been part of this journey and we look forward to staying involved as Crawford Apartments transitions from a development project to an operating supportive housing development that shines as an example of what can be done when a community believes that they can do better for those who are the most vulnerable. We believe that Mr. Crawford would have approved.

Indiana Supportive Housing Tenants Create a Housing Task Force

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The final training session on Integrated Housing and Integrated Healthcare facilitated by CSH featured a Supportive Housing Tenant Track. This program led by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and CSH staff involved sessions on telling your story as a part of advocating for change, peer support, and using your expertise to influence the future of supportive housing. Tenants from Goshen, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Muncie, and Terre Haute joined together during this session to form a NAMI Housing Committee, elected officers, and selected four areas to focus on in the first year:

1. Expand access to and knowledge of supportive housing,
2. Expand access to healthcare,
3. Connect families with children to needed housing and support,
4. Increase peer support

The Housing Committee and staff from NAMI and CSH will meet again in Indianapolis on September 18th and 19th to begin mapping out strategies and a timeline for recruiting additional members and advancing group goals. The second day will involve meeting with the Balance of State Continuum of Care Board of Directors.

All tenants of Indiana supportive housing and those who have an interest in ending homelessness are encouraged to join this NAMI Housing Committee. Please contact Stephanie for more information at 317-632-5874 or stephanie.sideman@csh.org

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The Courtyard Groundbreaking in Fort Wayne, IN

On May 21, nearly 100 people gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Courtyard, a supportive housing development in Fort Wayne, IN that will serve 36 youth aging out of foster care. Speakers included Mayor Tom Henry, representatives from both Senator Coats and Senator Donnelly's offices, and a plethora of partners including development team members, former foster youth, and leaders from the Fort Wayne Housing Authority, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Great Lakes Capital Fund, and CSH.

This development began as a vision that Donna Bolinger, Safe Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) Director of Business Development, shared with key partners. Ms. Bolinger successfully led a team of SAFY staff through the Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Institute in 2010 and added Biggs Development LLC, Stop Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN), Neighborhood Development Associates, LLC, and Ideal Builders to her team. Together, this team secured Low Income Housing Tax Credits, TCAP, and Community Development Block Grant funding from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and project based section 8 rental assistance from the Fort Wayne Housing Authority.

Following the ceremy, the energized crowd witnessed the beginning of the demolition of the Duemling Clinic, a building that has been vacant for 20 years, that will be removed to make room for new construction. This safely orchestrated first few swipes at the building brought great cheers from those in attendance.

Click here to read more about The Courtyard and view additional pictures.

Groundbreaking in Bloomington, IN

LifeDesign and Shalom Center held a groundbreaking ceremony in Bloomington, IN for the Crawford Apartments. This 25 unit supportive housing development will serve people experiencing chronic homelessness and is named after Frank Crawford. Mr. Crawford experienced chronic homelessness and regularly required emergency medical help for various conditions. After dying on the street, his body was found in a dumpster. This upsetting and tragic event is one of many reasons why a team formed in 307_Bloomington_Feb 28Bloomington to work toward providing a solution to ending chronic homelessness in the area. This team completed the 2012 Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Institute and utilized a CSH pre-development initiation loan.

Remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony were offered by the following supportive housing champions:

  • Mayor Mark Kruzan
  • Jack Brummett - Great Lakes Capital Fund
  • Rodney Stockment  - Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority,
  • Mark Bradford - Old National Bank
  • Rebecca Hyink - Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
  • Scott Stowers - South Central Housing Network
  • Chuck Heintzelman - Milestone Ventures

The development team, made up of the following partners, then used great force to break into a very cold ground, along with funding partners:

Development Team

  • LifeDesigns
  • Shalom Center
  • Positive Link, a Program of IU Health Bloomington
  • Centerstone
  • South Central Housing Network
  • Milestone Ventures

Funders

  • Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
  • Great Lakes Capital Fund
  • Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
  • City of Bloomington
  • CSH
  • Old National Bank

Crawford Apartments will open in October, 2013. Mr. Crawford would have been an ideal tenant for this supportive housing development and his memory will live on as people exit homelessness enter into and thrive in permanent housing.

100K Homes Indianapolis Community Briefing

236_CommunityBriefing_Feb 11On February 11, CSH co-facilitated a community briefing with the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention and City of Indianapolis to share Registry Week results, next steps, and ways to become involved in this effort.

Registry Week involved surveying people sleeping outside during the last week of January between the hours of 4am - 7am for three days using a combined Point in Time Count Survey and Vulnerability Index.

Click here to view the presentation offered. Click here to read an article about the Indy Registry Week and Community Briefing.

Of the 144 people surveyed, 86 scored as vulnerable and 14 people were connected to supportive housing the following week.

For more information or to view videos of volunteer reactions to Registry Week, please visit www.100khomesindy.org.

 

 

 

Supportive Housing Funded in Muncie, IN

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority announced the award of Low Income Housing Tax Credits for 20 developments at their board meeting this morning. Walnut Commons, a 44 unit supportive housing development in Muncie for those experiencing chronic homelessness, including Veterans, was on of the stellar projects funded.

Meridian Health Services  partnered with Daveri Development on Walnut Commons and attended the Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Institute in 2012. CSH issued a predevelopment initiation loan for this effort. Construction will begin during the fall of 2013.

Lt. Governor Sue Elspermann acknowledged the commitment of the two housing first teams who were awarded credits to house the most vulnerable among us.

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Vision 1505

Vision 1505 is a new housing development being undertaken by a partnership between the Evansville Housing Authority and Aurora, Inc. to provide permanent supportive housing for families who are experiencing homelessness. Flaherty and Collins was contracted to renovate the former Vanderburgh County Corrections Safe House  into new energy efficient one, two and three bedroom apartments. Flaherty and Collins will also provide enhanced property management services. This team graduated from the Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Institute in 2009.

All of this started with the vision of Tim Kempf. Tim heard a radio commercial on WIKY from Aurora regarding homelessness and went in the next day to talk with Executive Director Luzada Hayes. She talked with him about the need for family supportive housing and Tim purchased a property that he donated to the Evansville Housing Authority for this purpose. This is the site of Vision 1505, located at 1505 N.W. Third Ave.

The new property includes green/sustainable features such as high efficiency heating and cooling systems, green space for resident use including room for community garden, rain barrels for irrigation of garden area, and a recycle center in the community room.

Vision 1505 will be operated on a housing first model, offering supportive services on-site and making outside referrals as needed.

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