CLPHA Press Room

From Lucas Metropolitan Housing's press release:

“Full steam ahead, Toledo.”

That was the message delivered today by Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz during a news conference and groundbreaking ceremony with federal, state and local leaders to mark the start of construction on Collingwood Green V, a $29 million, 75-apartment community that will increase affordable housing opportunities for residents aged 62-plus in the northwest Ohio region that has prioritized the need for building more senior housing.

A currently pristine lot that was previously blighted for years on the northeast corner of Division Street and Nebraska Avenue just west of the city’s downtown, the eagerly anticipated Collingwood Green V project is touted as another major step forward in the continuing revitalization of the Junction Neighborhood, one of Toledo’s oldest enclaves.

“I’m here today to deliver a message on behalf of the Junction Neighborhood residents who are excited to welcome the kickoff of this new transformative addition to their community: Full steam ahead,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “Investing in senior housing, such as Collingwood Phase V, goes beyond improving in dividual lives — it strengthens the entire Toledo community,” he said. “These types of high-quality developments attract essential services and businesses that cater to seniors, fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive together.”

The mayor was joined at the groundbreaking ceremony that attracted a standing-room-only crowd by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio’s 9th District; Lucas County Commissioners Pete Gerken, Anita Lopez and Lisa A. Sobecki; Toledo Housing and Community Development Director Rosalyn Clemens; Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH) President and CEO Senghor Manns; LMH Board Chair Alisha Gant; National Church Residences Vice President of Housing Development Amy J. Rosenthal; Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio Immediate Past Board Chair Bill Harris; Erica Krause, northwest Ohio regional representative for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; National Affordable Housing Trust Underwriter Jarrett Jordan; and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Cleveland Field Office Director Brian Murray.

The City of Toledo and Lucas County are partnering with Lucas Metropolitan Housing, the nonprofit National Church Residences and builder Rudolph Libbe Groupto lead the project, which is supported by $3 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the City of Toledo for the construction, as well as roughly $3.7 million in ARPA funds allocated by the Lucas County Board of Commissioners.

The Collingwood Green V development highlights an ambitious slate of construction projects LMH has introduced that totals more than $92 million over the next two years as part of an innovative strategy to offer more affordable housing options to Lucas County families, people with disabilities and especially the elderly who are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising rental home prices.

“The need for affordable housing is especially critical for seniors in Lucas County because our elderly population is significantly increasing and is projected to grow for the foreseeable future,” LMH’s Manns said.

“Our aim with Collingwood Green V is to promote healthy aging by offering rents that are reasonably priced to lower-income older adults and allowing them to have money left each month to pay for other life necessities,” said Manns. “Providing affordable housing can help seniors free up resources to spend on other essential needs, like health care and food.”

Collingwood Green V is the next phase of Lucas Metropolitan Housing’s heralded Collingwood Green community, a strategically planned neighborhood with abundant green space and hundreds of existing units of quality affordable housing.

The new development will consist of 75 one-bedroom units. Of the 75-unit total, 30 apartments will serve older adults at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI), or approximately $30,400. Of the remaining 45 units, 28 will be restricted to older adults at or below 70% of the AMI, and 17 will be restricted to older adults at or below 60% of the AMI. Under the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Income Averaging set-aside, the project can serve older adults up to 80% of the AMI, or $48,650.

Lucas County’s 60-plus population is growing fast, but the 85-plus and older demographic is increasing even more, according to the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio. Roughly 1 in 4 Toledo residents — 64,000 people, or 24% of the city’s population — is age 60 or older, U.S. census data shows. 

“Toledo is undergoing a large demographic transformation, with our senior population — especially those aged 85 and older — climbing at an unprecedented rate,” Harris said.

Said Congresswoman Kaptur: “By investing in projects like Collingwood Green V, we are ensuring that this vibrant demographic has access to safe and affordable housing that meets their evolving needs.”

Studies show safe and stable housing can reduce stress and improve physical and mental health outcomes. Research by the National Institutes of Health shows that affordable housing for seniors can lead to lower hospitalization rates and annual health care cost savings of $1,300 per person.

“To be impactful comprehensively, I wholeheartedly believe that LMH’s efforts must include creating ways that help our seniors to live and age with dignity, respect and without fear for their safety,” Gant said. “I’m confident Collingwood Green V will achieve and surpass that standard.”

The four overall previous phases of Collingwood Green development spearheaded by LMH have been 15 years in the making, and all properties combined total more than $80 million. The reinvigorated Collingwood Green neighborhood replaced the formerly blighted Brand Whitlock and Albertus Brown Homes sites.

“Collingwood Green Phase V is more than just a building; it’s a commitment to our seniors — a promise that we honor their legacy and ensure they live with dignity and respect,” said Clemens.

From the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority's website:

Today, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) staff joined federal, state, county, and veterans’ service leaders to announce that Hennepin County has effectively ended homelessness among veterans. The “functional zero” designation comes from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and means that in Hennepin County, veterans’ homelessness is considered rare, brief, and non-reoccurring.

Through the years, MPHA has provided hundreds of Hennepin County veterans and their families rental assistance through HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Voucher (HUD-VASH). Nationwide, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness has fallen by more than 52% since 2010, in part due to the success of the HUD-VASH program. Now, in Hennepin County, the program has helped eliminate veterans homeless entirely. Key to that success is MPHA, which administers 347 HUD-VASH vouchers, more than every other jurisdiction in Hennepin County combined.

“MPHA is proud to be a partner in this incredible achievement of ending veterans’ homelessness in our community,” said Brandon Crow, MPHA’s Director of Housing Choice Vouchers. “As a HUD high-performer, MPHA is uniquely positioned to help address housing instability across many populations in Minneapolis. Whether it’s the veterans-focused VASH program, Stable Homes Stable Schools, project-based vouchers, or the traditional tenant-based vouchers, MPHA is committed to addressing our region’s affordable housing crisis using every tool available.”

Developed in 1992 and expanded in 2008, HUD-VASH creates a special Housing Choice Voucher (HCV, “Section 8” vouchers) tailored specifically to serve veterans and their families facing homelessness. The HUD-VASH program combines HCV rental assistance for homeless veteran households with case management and clinical services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) or a VA contractor or VA-designated service provider (DSP). Supportive social services include healthcare, mental health services, and employment resources and support.

In Minneapolis, MPHA maintains a partnership with the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The Minneapolis VAMC screens homeless veterans for initial eligibility. Eligible veterans who agree to participate in case management are then referred to MPHA for a voucher where they are evaluated for income eligibility before being issued a voucher.

The HUD-VASH program offers two types of vouchers: tenant-based and project-based vouchers (PBVs), mirroring MPHA’s more traditional HCV programs. The tenant-based voucher allows participants to find their own Section 8-eligible housing in the private market, whereas the PBV remains associated with specific units within housing developments serving Section 8-eligible populations.

Once in stable housing and receiving federal rent assistance through MPHA, program participants continue receiving case management and clinical services support from the Minneapolis VAMC.

*Veterans interested in applying for HUD-VASH should connect with the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) to learn more about the program and their eligibility.

From the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's newsletter:

Since January 2023, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) has been partnering with The Good Knights of Lorain County in an ongoing initiative to construct and donate beds, including frames, mattresses, and linens, to families living in Outhwaite, King Kennedy, Cedar, and Carver Park estates. Recognizing the pivotal role of a good night's sleep in a child's health and development, this endeavor seeks to provide crucial support to families. Additionally, it serves as a platform for volunteers to engage with the community, while also offering carpentry students an opportunity to refine their skills.

Thus far, volunteers from various sectors, including CMHA’s Resident Services, Property Maintenance, Maintenance staff from CMHA's 50 properties, and students from East Tech High School's carpentry program, have dedicated their time and effort to constructing 145 beds from scratch.Their duties encompass a variety of tasks, from drilling and sawing to sanding. Additionally, they are instrumental in delivering essential materials like lumber, hardware, and tools to homes on community build days.

From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:

Construction that begins next week will transform a former extended-stay hotel in Mission Valley into affordable rental apartments owned by the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) to provide rental homes of their own for more than 160 people currently in homelessness shelters or on the streets in the City of San Diego.

The project is one of the ongoing collaborative initiatives among the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, SDHC and Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) to address homelessness, with significant funding from the State of California’s Homekey Program.

“Transforming hotels into supportive housing is a way to get people off the streets and into homes more quickly,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “This Homekey project demonstrates the power of collaboration between the State, City, County, and local partners to address homelessness more effectively. Along with the other five Homekey projects in the City of San Diego, Presidio Palms pushes the total new homes created through this program to 608 – each one an opportunity for San Diegans to rebuild their lives.”

Since Homekey began in 2020, the State has awarded more than $105 million to SDHC, in collaboration with the City and County, to create 608 new affordable rental homes with on-site access to supportive services for people experiencing homelessness.

“Increasing the availability of affordable housing is the key to preventing and addressing homelessness and reducing cost-of-living in San Diego,” said San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents Council District 9, which includes a recently completed, Homekey-funded affordable housing property, PATH Villas El Cerrito, also developed in collaboration with the City, County and SDHC. “That is why it is so important we work creatively and collaboratively to create housing quickly and efficiently. This project is an example of all of that. We deeply appreciate the work of the San Diego Housing Commission and the Regional Task Force on Homelessness for using State Homekey Funds to create the housing we so desperately need.”

The State awarded $35 million toward SDHC’s purchase and rehabilitation of Presidio Palms. The City and County each funded $17.8 million, and the RTFH awarded $1.1 million.

“It’s projects like Presidio Palms and the thousands of additional affordable housing units in the pipeline that will help to end San Diego’s housing crisis,” said City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, who represents Council District 3, which includes Presidio Palms and another SDHC-owned, Homekey-funded property, Valley Vista, which consists of 190 affordable housing units. “This has been a tremendous collaboration which will transform this one-time hotel into a warm and welcoming home for people who have experienced homelessness.”

In addition to capital funds for SDHC’s purchase and rehabilitation, the County of San Diego committed to request more than $8.5 million over five years toward the necessary behavioral health supportive services for Presidio Palms residents.

“Today’s groundbreaking for Presidio Palms is a significant step forward in addressing homelessness in San Diego County,” said Chairwoman Nora Vargas of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Together, we’re not just building housing—we’re paving pathways so that everyone has the chance to thrive in a safe and stable environment.”

The affordable apartments at Presidio Palms will provide on-site access to supportive services for residents, such as outreach and engagement; mental health services; healthcare/physical health services; behavioral health services; substance use services; case management; care coordination; life skills training; education and employment services; assistance obtaining benefits; and essential documentation and transportation services.

SDHC committed 161 rental housing vouchers to help Presidio Palms residents pay their rent, and SDHC will manage the property.

“With Presidio Palms, we are continuing the kind of collaborative efforts we have seen create housing more quickly for those who need it most, with supportive services to help them achieve housing stability,” SDHC Vice Chair of the Board Ryan Clumpner said. “These apartments will be life-changing for residents and will benefit the San Diego community by providing homes for our unhoused neighbors.”

From the San Diego Housing Commission's press release:

 Seniors with low income, including those who experienced homelessness, will have brand-new affordable rental apartments of their own near public transit and additional community amenities in San Ysidro at Ventana al Sur, a development built in collaboration with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC).

“This project itself is tangible proof of the fact that we are making progress on this key issue of housing affordability and homelessness,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said at a ribbon-cutting event today. “Affordable housing projects like this one help us to address the rising cost of rent, which we know is pricing too many people in our community. It’s one of our direct responses to that kind of challenge to make sure that we create a city that is safe, that is stable and is more affordable for all of us.”

Developed by Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County (MAAC) and Kingdom Development, Ventana al Sur features one- and two-bedroom rental apartments in a four-story building for 100 seniors with low income, including 25 units for seniors who experienced homelessness. These units will remain affordable for 55 years. The development also includes one manager’s unit.

“Having your parent or grandparent be able to be near you as you’re raising kids, it’s an amazing, amazing thing,” California State Assemblymember David Alvarez said. “That’s what this community is about. And that’s what this building and this housing is about because the statistics of San Ysidro are that it’s an older community. Our older community stays here and lives here and wants to be close to their families, and this gives them that opportunity.”

Residents are anticipated to begin moving into Ventana al Sur next month.

“What Ventana al Sur is going to do is address not only our population who had been unsheltered, but it’s going to give people an opportunity to see that the members of this community deserve better,” San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas said.

SDHC awarded 25 rental housing vouchers to Ventana al Sur to help pay rent for seniors who previously experienced homelessness. These residents also will receive on-site supportive services, including case management, life skills and access to mental health services.

“We know a growing number of seniors are experiencing homelessness in our community, and many more are struggling to get by with fixed or limited income in a high housing cost area, creating anxiety about potentially losing a home,” SDHC’s Executive Vice President of Rental Assistance and Workforce Development Azucena Valladolid said. “Ventana al Sur will provide rental homes that are affordable as well as peace of mind for 100 senior households.”

SDHC also awarded a $4.4 million loan toward the development of Ventana al Sur, consisting of funds SDHC administers from the City of San Diego Affordable Housing Fund and the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Local Housing Trust Fund.

The rental units at Ventana al Sur will be affordable for seniors with income ranging from 20 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income (AMI), currently $21,200 per year for a one-person household, to 50 percent of AMI, currently $53,050 per year for a one-person household.

“I’m thrilled that you are here today because this development will serve as a MAAC hub where MAAC and Kingdom will continue to work with our community partners, our residents, and families, and our entire San Ysidro community,” said MAAC President and CEO Arnulfo Manriquez, who grew up in San Ysidro.

“When we called up MAAC and said you guys have 30, 40 years of leadership in this community, caring about these people, this is something that if it’s your project, if this is your investment in the community, I know it’ll be amazing for decades.” Kingdom Development President William Leach said. “There was no question we felt the most blessed to be able to work with MAAC and to be able to help everybody bring this asset to the community.”

Financing for Ventana al Sur also included resources from the State of California and City of San Diego. The City’s “Bridge to Home” program provided $5 million toward the development. The State of California awarded a combined total of approximately $50.4 million from the California State Multifamily Housing and California Housing Accelerator programs to support Ventana al Sur.

Ventana al Sur is in the San Ysidro Historic Village District, close to a portion of San Ysidro where Interstate Freeways 5 and 805 intersect near the U.S.-Mexico International Border.

The property is within walking distance of transit options, including being less than 500 feet from the Beyer Boulevard Trolley Station. Also near the development are healthcare providers, a public library and a local park.

Apartments at Ventana al Sur include Energy Star appliances, including refrigerators and stoves as well as balconies and storage space. Site amenities include a community room, a recreational courtyard and plaza, a laundry room and a walking trail.