CHICAGO (PRWEB)
June 29, 2021
A Safe Haven Foundation (ASH), an internationally acclaimed top Chicago-based 501©3 nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness, recently held an informational session about the Rauner Family Veterans Apartments by A Safe Haven at the Lake County Government Center Auditorium in Crown Point, Indiana.
A Safe Haven Foundation’s Co-Founder and President Neli Vazquez Rowland, represented the nonprofit along with speakers Tracy Emmanuel, social work supervisor from the Jesse Brown HUD-VASH program, Jesse Brown VA Homeless Program Supervisor; Byron Taylor, Lake County Commissioner; Mike Repay, Executive Director of Lake County Community and Economic Development; Tim Brown, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) Housing Choice Voucher Program Analyst Michael Wey and 1st District American Legion member and WJOB Veterans Views Radio Program host Patrick O’Donnell.
“I would like to thank all the speakers who have helped support this important project forgiving a voice to veterans who are in need of affordable housing,” said Vazquez Rowland. “I am proud to say that the Rauner Family Veterans Apartments is near its completion and we are now accepting applications from veterans that are interested in living in the new development. The property is scheduled to open in mid-September 2021.”
This project is a 75 Apartment Units Supportive Housing development. The apartments will be made available to low-income, senior, and disabled military veterans who are referred to A Safe Haven by the local US Veteran Administration offices. Onsite services will include supportive housing, individualized case management and peer support services.
“The department and the Lake County Redevelopment Commission were eager to help the veterans in our area and, while it took a few years, very soon the facility will be open helping veterans with affordable housing options and unique social services,” Brown said. “It has been a pleasure to work with A Safe Haven and their supporting staff to make this project a reality.”
Emmanuel added: “Jesse Brown is excited to have 75 new, permanent housing units in Hobart for Veterans. It is critical for Veterans to have a safe, stable places to call home. This development does that.”
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers (VAMCs) and community-based outreach clinics to help Veterans find and sustain permanent housing. HUD has approved 75 vouchers for use by veterans for this project.
In addition to over $20 million in Federal HUD/VA rental housing tax credits, bond volume and other financing secured from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), former Governor of Illinois and Venture Capitalist, Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana Rauner, have generously gifted $1,000,000 to A Safe Haven Foundation to support financing and long-term ongoing support.
To make this development a reality the leadership team at A Safe Haven Foundation has worked with KMA Companies as the development partner and the City of Hobart on this project for almost three years.
Vazquez Rowland also announced that Veterans Matter, a Toledo, Ohio-based organization, has agreed to generously donate the cost of the applications for the apartments for all qualified veterans. Veterans Matter is providing a grant to cover all veteran application fees for Rauner Family Veteran Studios by A Safe Haven Foundation in Chicago RRVH and the Rauner Family Veterans Apartments by A Safe Haven Foundation in Chicago.
O’Donnell remarks mentioned that “the 75-unit permanent housing facility is a big boon for our homeless veterans, this facility is perfectly located to shopping, restaurants, and the VA Clinic. This housing will not only be safe and secure, but our homeless veterans desire a place they can proudly call home.”
For more information about eligibility and referrals, contact the Jesse Brown HUD-VASH Team at 312-569-8387, Ext. 59339. For information about A Safe Haven Foundation, visit http://www.asafehaven.org.
About A Safe Haven
A Safe Haven Foundation is a 501(c)3 not for profit, social enterprise that helps people aspire, transform, and sustain their lives as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose. A Safe Haven provides the tools for each individual to overcome the root causes of homelessness through a holistic and scalable model. A Safe Haven’s visible social and economic impact unites families, stabilizes neighborhoods, and creates vibrant, viable communities. To learn more about A Safe Haven visit, http://www.asafehaven.org. A Safe Haven Foundation has been proud to have been named a HUD Envision Center and a DOL VetHire Gold Medallion employer. ASHF is proudly co-founded by US ARMY VETERAN Brian Rowland.
About KMA Companies
A Real Estate Development and Property Management Company specializing in building, construction management and managing affordable housing, since 1996.
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