CMHA began 2019 boldly implementing considerable regionwide affordable housing preservation. I am eager to report that we are making real progress using that bold approach, focusing our work on: preserving CMHA’s affordable housing portfolio; urging families to move toward self-sufficiency; and building even more public/private partnerships.
CMHA is making strides to preserve affordable housing stock (units) throughout Hamilton County. In addition to the more than $36 million investment in Baldwin Grove and Sutter View, we expect to secure financing on four more properties soon – Evanston, Pinecrest, Park Eden and Marianna Terrace. These four together represent a $72 million investment in our community and provide 542 newly renovated units for our residents.
In August, we opened The ROC – CMHA’s Resource Opportunities Center – as a hub for residents to access programs and services needed to move families and individuals to self-sufficiency. Some residents have even been hired to engage their neighbors personally. One meaningful program is the HCV Family Self-Sufficiency program.
CMHA continues to provide unprecedented opportunities for Section 3 businesses, Section 3 residents, our residents, resident-owned businesses and the overall community. CMHA promotes the creation of jobs and training opportunities through our public/private partnerships. One example is CMHA’s recent partnership with Easterseals to be part of the funding application to the city of Cincinnati for its Hand Up Initiative, which actively promotes independence by offering a mix of job readiness and job training programs designed to help build self-sufficiency.
I believe that doing these three (above) things well makes CMHA an important asset to all of Hamilton County. And I further believe that being a good partner to those with whom we work and serve (including our residents) is key to the entire region’s progress. We are proud to be part of that progress.
I wrote in February that “now is the time to act.” And leveraging HUD tools is just one way we continue to act, taking bold steps. However, the work is not yet complete. So we will continue boldly stepping into that bright – and more sustainable – affordable housing future. Our community is recognizing that affordable housing is more than simply providing someone a place to live. And together with all of our partners, we will continue working to address this critical community issue on all three fronts – preserving the portfolio, urging self-sufficiency and building public/private partnerships.
Source: cincinnati
