New Housing for Female Veterans Coming Soon to North College Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CINCINNATI - Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio announces Annabelle's Place, a new affordable housing community for women veterans, after final development plans were approved yesterday evening at the North College Hill Planning Committee/City Council meeting.

Annabelle's Place is located on a 3.8 acre lot in North College Hill at 2080 West Galbraith Road and will be comprised of two buildings, each one-story and 4,000 square-feet. The new housing community will provide low- to moderate- income women veterans in the Greater Cincinnati area much needed supportive housing to help foster a positive living environment in which they can recover and thrive. Annabelle's Place will be conveniently situated within walking distance of key neighborhood services such as bus transportation, a grocery store, pharmacy, and various employment opportunities. Each of the furnished 12 efficiency-style apartments will include a kitchen with appliances, bathroom and patio area; two units will offer a separate bedroom for veterans with children. There will be both indoor and outdoor common space, community rooms, and laundry facilities.

The architectural design by glaserworks was crafted to create a home-like, safe and peaceful community; offering shared spaces as well as fully equipped private apartments and a small, private patio. The project aims for LEED Silver certification.

All residents will have access to supportive services including case management, support groups for Military Sexual Trauma, Domestic Violence and Moral Injury, and medical professionals needed to successfully live independently. The support groups would also be made available to other women veterans in the area.

"When women veterans return home, they face unique challenges different from those of their male counterparts, including raising children on their own or dealing with the psychological effects of military sexual trauma," said Dennis Kresak, president and CEO of Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio. "Annabelle's Place will help to better serve women veterans in the Cincinnati area, who are at a greater risk of becoming homeless, by providing a safe and secure environment where they can live independently while learning to recover and reach their full potential."

"We are grateful for the community and the City of North College Hill for their shared belief that every veteran deserves a place to call home."

Project partners: glaserworks – Architect of Record; Bayer Becker – Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture; Engineered Building Systems – MEP Engineering; Steve Hudepohl – Structural Engineering.

Construction is anticipated to start fall of this year and be completed by next summer.