Construction Begins on New Supportive Housing Community
Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio kicked off construction of Van Buren Village, a supportive housing community, with a groundbreaking ceremony, on Thursday, October 2.
Van Buren Village is located on a 3.5 acre lot in the West Edge Business Center in south Franklinton. The 90,000 square-foot, 3-story urban contemporary style housing community, will provide single adults in Franklin County much needed permanent supportive housing in support of the community’s plan to end homelessness. Van Buren Village will be conveniently situated near key neighborhood services such as bus transportation, a grocery store, pharmacy, and various employment opportunities. Each of the 100 one-bedroom apartments will be approximately 600 square-feet and will include a kitchen with appliances, bathroom and separate bedroom and living space. There will be both indoor and outdoor common space, community rooms, and an equipped computer work space. Housing will be provided for 60 homeless single adults coming through the Rebuilding Lives system and 40 individuals referred by the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County.
All residents will have access to on-site supportive services including case management staff and medical professionals needed to successfully live independently.
“There is no question our community cares deeply for those who are homeless and suffer with mental illness,” said Dennis Kresak, president and CEO of Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio. “The new Van Buren Village housing community will enhance our ability to better serve Columbus-area residents who battle with housing stability by providing permanent housing and supportive services – including a peer support component – all under one roof.”
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is the co-developer for Van Buren Village and will provide project-based housing vouchers. Van Buren Village was developed with tax credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and HOME Funds from the City of Columbus and Franklin County. Additional partners include the Affordable Housing Trust, Community Shelter Board, Fifth Third Bank, Huntington National Bank, and Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, The building will be managed by Community Properties of Ohio and Columbus Area Integrated Health Services is the services partner.
Construction is anticipated to be complete within 12 months. Residents will begin leasing units in October 2015.
Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio serves over 4,300 individuals, families, and veterans in Columbus each year by providing housing, supportive case management, financial literacy education, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and employment services. Nationally, Volunteers of America serves over 25,000 people through 377 affordable housing programs in 40 states.