Special to The Truth
National Church Residences, in partnership with Lucas Housing Services Corporation—a Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH) Non-Profit Affiliate—has been awarded $5,898,509 from HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing Grant for the Elderly for Collingwood Green Phase V.
The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program provides rental assistance and capital advances to private, nonprofit sponsors to finance the development of housing for very low-income elderly residents.
Collingwood Green Phase V will consist of a 75-one-bedroom apartment mixed-use building, with commercial space on the first floor. The 20-acre site with the mid-rise building will serve the elderly. The projected total development cost will exceed $17 million.
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur was on hand for the announcement. She stated, “Our seniors have spent their lives building up and providing for the next generations – and we owe it to them to ensure they are provided the dignity, care, and respect they deserve. This remarkable partnership between National Church Residences, Lucas Metropolitan Housing, and the federal government is indicative of the community-wide dedication to lifting up our aging residents. We appreciate the tireless efforts undertaken by all to advance this project and bring us one step closer to housing our neighbors in need.”
The award will support the construction of 30 of the 75 apartments that will be available for very low-income elderly households. The remaining 45 apartments will be funded through a variety of other sources including, but not limited to, private funding, Lowincome Public Housing Tax Credits, and the Federal Home Loan Bank-Affordable Housing Program.
National Church Residences Executive Vice President of External Affairs and Strategic Partnerships Michelle Norris commented, “National Church Residences values partnerships above all else. This opportunity was only made possible due to the combined efforts of Congresswoman Kaptur’s office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Lucas County Metropolitan Housing. We’re grateful for their work and we’re excited to grow our portfolio in Toledo through the HUD Section 202 Program. This award allows National Church Residences to further our mission of providing affordable housing and supportive services to seniors in this area.”
Residents at Collingwood Green Phase V will benefit from an amenity-rich location with easy access to healthcare services and senior services. The building design will maximize resident socialization by fostering natural resident interactions in pedestrian pathways and thoughtfully-crafted community spaces. The building will have a large community space with a full warming kitchen. This space will be used for a variety of social, educational, and community service purposes. The building will also have a fitness center, media room, and other flexible common/program space areas.
“At Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH), we are translating vision into reality—to create and maintain sustainable, affordable housing opportunities, provide pathways to a better quality of life, and empower vibrant communities. This award supports our vision to expand the supply of affordable housing with supportive services. In this case, to provide options for the elderly that will allow them to live independently but in an environment that provides additional support activities,” said Joaquin Cintron Vega, LMH President and Chief Executive Officer and President of the Lucas Housing Services Corporation. “I am very grateful for the support of Congresswoman Kaptur and our partnership with National Church Residences. Their guidance, direction, and effective work in coordination with our LMH team and the Lucas Housing Services Corporation (LHSC), opened the door for this fantastic opportunity.”
Established in 1933, Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH) provides affordable housing to adults, seniors and children in its Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Mixed-Income and Market Rate housing units. LMH also provides a myriad of programs and opportunities designed to improve the total quality of life for our residents, with the ultimate goal of achieving self-sufficiency. The programs and services are the results of successful collaborations with numerous community partners. Our current housing portfolio consists of 2,633 Public Housing units; 4,657 Housing Choice Vouchers; 322 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units; 198 Market Rate units and 107 Homeownership Properties. There are approximately 17,500 people who reside in LMH properties. Lucas Metropolitan Housing partners with ALL people and organizations willing to exchange ideas and efforts to enhance Toledo, Lucas County and the world.
Established in 2013, Lucas Housing Services Corporation (LHSC) is a non-profit affiliate of Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH). LHSC is the anchor of the Community Development arm for LMH. LHSC‘s mission is to, “provide relief for a community located within low- and moderate-income census tracts by rehabilitating and improving properties subject to blight and foreclosure. Such activities will help relieve conditions of poverty, dependency, chronic unemployment, and underemployment in an economically depressed community. Given the unmet need of the community for such relief, LHSC is a critical vehicle for improving the quality and value of the distressed areas.
Founded on a faith-based mission, National Church Residences (then Ohio Church Residences) has grown from a flagship community, Bristol Village, in Waverly, Ohio, to become the nation’s largest non-profit provider of senior housing in the country. Today the organization owns and/or operates 340 senior housing communities in 25 states.