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David Greer
Director of Communications
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From So Others Might Eat's press release:
On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, SOME (So Others Might Eat), a DC-based nonprofit focused on combating poverty and homelessness, unveiled its newest addition to the D.C. skyline with the official opening of Roberts Residences at 1515 North Capitol Street NE.
The 92,000 square-foot, 15-story building, now the tallest in Ward 5, stands as a testament to the ongoing commitment to provide affordable, high-quality housing to underserved residents in the nation's capital.
"Today, with the unveiling of Roberts Residences, we are not just celebrating a building. We're recognizing a dream realized, the power of collaboration, and the enduring spirit of our community,” said Ralph Boyd, president and CEO of SOME. “This building also reflects a shared achievement, made possible through the steadfast commitment of partners such as the Department of Housing and Community Development and the D.C. Housing Finance Agency. Our gratitude extends to JP Morgan Chase, Lument, and Enterprise for their unwavering belief and support in our mission."
Roberts Residences is designed for single adults, with 75 units reserved for people earning below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and all units allocated for those below 50% AMI. Through a partnership with D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA), 75 out of the 139 units are subsidized, ensuring residents contribute only 30% of their rent based on their income, with DCHA covering up to the remaining 70% for subsidized units.
"Delivering this project ahead of schedule, even amid challenges, underscores our dedication to community-driven projects,” said Bill Bartling, Vice President and Business Unit Leader at Clark Construction, the company responsible for the state-of-the-art development. “We expect Roberts Residences to become a cornerstone of the neighborhood and are proud to have partnered with SOME in bringing this vision to life."
Drawing from its history of effectively using diverse financial mechanisms, JP Morgan Chase has been instrumental in bringing projects like Roberts Residences to fruition.
“Roberts Residences will have a tremendous impact on the community and the District residents who call it home,” said Caitlin Gossens, Senior Commercial Banker at JPMorgan Chase. “Chase is committed to helping SOME create quality, stable homes and providing supportive services for residents transitioning out of homelessness. Through their tireless efforts, SOME is closing the housing gap in our nation’s capital and is transforming lives.”
Tenants are scheduled to move into their new homes later this month. The building's strategic location, just blocks from SOME’s main campus on O Street NW, ensures residents have ready access to emergency, social, and healthcare services. Furthermore, residents benefit from amenities like a computer lab, library, classroom space, gym, and Wi-Fi-enabled rooms — all aimed at fostering a sense of community and viability.
“Over the life of this project, thousands of people will call this property their home. With SOME’s extensive supportive services, which include financial planning, employment support, health services and vocational programming, the Roberts Residences will be a launchpad for many people to gain their footing and move up to find financial stability,” said Scott Hutter, Director of Multifamily Lending at DC Housing Finance Agency. “SOME’s unwavering commitment to social justice through housing is unrivaled. At DCHFA, it's a privilege to continue to work with them and we look forward to doing so much more.”
From The Bronx Daily News:
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the City University of New York (CUNY), in partnership with the Public Housing Community Fund, today announced the award of an unprecedented 79 new scholarships totaling $79,000 through the NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program. The annual program, which aims to help NYCHA residents achieve a higher education, provides $1,000 per recipient for CUNY education-related expenses, including tuition and textbooks. The scholarships offer payments to eligible public housing residents and Section 8 recipients currently pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees at CUNY schools with 24 or more credits and a minimum 3.0 grade point average. This year, private donors, including Amazon and New York City Council Members, contributed to the scholarship fund. An award ceremony was held in honor of this year’s recipients on September 29. Since its inception, a total of 415 recipients have been awarded $415,000 through the program.
“Our actions as an administration reflect a deep commitment to the well-being of all our young people and a belief that where you are should not determine who you are and who you could be,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Being able to complete your college education involves more than just the ability to attend classes and study, but whether you can even afford to obtain a higher education. In addition to tuition, students have to buy textbooks and other supplies, as well as pay for transportation. The NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program provides college students in NYCHA the support they need to complete their education and get on the path to prosperity and success.”
“This scholarship program reduces financial barriers to entry that are so often an impediment to those seeking higher degrees,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “We are grateful for the investment made in the education and futures of the 79 NYCHA residents and CUNY students who will benefit from this year’s program.”
“Pursuing higher education is an amazing achievement, but one that can be daunting financially,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “It is our pleasure and privilege to work alongside CUNY and the Public Housing Community Fund to put this generous funding to good work, helping NYCHA residents attain college educations.”
Read The Bronx Daily News' article "Unprecedented 79 New NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships Awarded To NYCHA Residents."
From Northeastern Global News:
Adelia Argueta had multiple options for attending college — and attending college for free.
But when Argueta received that opportunity from Northeastern through the Boston Housing Authority Scholars program, she knew she had found a match.
“God put me here for a reason — this school is for me,” Argueta, a first-year student, says.
The Northeastern Boston Housing Authority Scholars Program provides full-tuition scholarships for BHA public housing residents. The scholarship is available to recent high school graduates looking for a traditional undergraduate bachelor’s degree program, or students of any age interested in a bachelor’s completion program through the College of Professional Studies.
“We’re very lucky to have this partnership that has been going on for so long,” Sahar Lawrence, director of resident leadership and community affairs at the BHA, says. Lawrence says the program has been around for roughly 40 years.
“When residents find out about it, they are very enthusiastic. So it’s quite exciting sometimes,” Lawrence continues. “It’s pretty unique to have this scholarship for a neighborhood school.”
Read Northeastern Global News' article "‘It has been life changing for me.’ Northeastern Boston Housing Authority Scholars Program creates opportunity."
From City of San Diego's press release:
To support ongoing, collaborative efforts to create additional permanent affordable homes with supportive services for people experiencing homelessness in the City of San Diego, the State of California has awarded $20.75 million in Homekey program funds for two San Diego projects. Applications for additional funds for San Diego are still pending a State decision.
“Outreach and shelter are critical components of our efforts to address homelessness, but what truly will solve this crisis is housing. That’s why this Homekey funding is crucial to our progress in meeting our city’s top challenge,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “I’m grateful to Governor Newsom and our partners at the county and state for helping us put a roof over people’s heads with supportive services to permanently end their homelessness.”
The State awarded these Homekey funds to the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) for projects that will produce 75 new affordable rental housing units with supportive services at properties in City Council District 2. All of these units would serve people experiencing homelessness.
“The evidence could not be clearer. Housing ends homelessness — specifically homes with support services that meet the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness,” said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “This Homekey funding will allow us to rapidly transform the lives of 75 of San Diego’s most vulnerable residents. I am deeply appreciative of Governor Newsom’s innovative Homekey initiative, our partnership with the County of San Diego led by Chair Vargas, and for the hard work of Housing Commission staff to develop an application that rose to the top of a very competitive process. This is a huge win for San Diego.”
“We know that housing ends homelessness, and the state’s Homekey program is a solution that works. It’s the collaborative effort between the state, county, and the city that will resolve homelessness in San Diego. The Homekey funds awarded to the San Diego Housing Commission by Governor Gavin Newsom will renovate two properties in District 2 that will give homeless individuals a clean and safe place to live,” said Councilmember Jennifer
Campbell, who represents communities in District 2.
The County of San Diego Board of Supervisors has also approved funding to support these projects.
“San Diego County is committed to supporting equitable and sustainable solutions for our region’s unsheltered population. Through strong and collaborative partnerships with partners like the City of San Diego, and the San Diego Housing Commission, we can continue strategizing viable solutions for our unsheltered community,” said Nora Vargas, Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Prioritizing housing and vital services like mental health and access to food assistance, we can keep our families, seniors, and veterans under a roof.”
The State awarded $16.85 million for SDHC’s proposed purchase and rehabilitation of the Ramada Inn at 3737-3747 Midway Drive in the Midway Community to create 62 affordable single-room occupancy (SRO) units, to be known as Pacific Village. An additional $3.9 million from the State will support SDHC’s collaboration with Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation to rehabilitate a vacant multifamily housing property at 2147 Abbott Street in Ocean Beach to create 13 affordable housing units.
SDHC has committed rental housing vouchers to help residents pay their rent at both properties when they are completed. Residents would receive access to supportive services, such as primary health care, mental and behavioral health care, and other community-based programs to best meet a resident’s individual needs.
Many organizations submitted letters in support of all of SDHC’s Homekey applications, including the Asian Business Association of San Diego; California Restaurant Association’s San Diego County Chapter; East Village Association; Downtown San Diego Partnership; Forever Balboa Park; Little Italy Association; Lucky Duck Foundation; San Diego Black American Policy Association Foundation; San Diego Food Bank; San Diego Padres; and San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
SDHC will request approval from the San Diego City Council, sitting as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego, to accept and expend the funds for the purchase and rehabilitation of these properties before proceeding.
Project Homekey provides an opportunity to bring badly needed housing online faster and cheaper than traditional new-construction affordable housing. Thanks to funding and regulatory streamlining from the Homekey program, San Diego has a unique opportunity to get people out of encampments and shelters and into permanent homes in months rather than years, and for as much as several hundreds of thousands of dollars less, per door. In some cases, the cost of new construction in San Diego has exceeded $675,000 per door. Homekey requires rehabilitation and occupancy to occur by a little more than a year at the latest; new housing can take three or more years to complete.
SDHC also has applied for $63.5 million through a statewide competition for the current round of limited Homekey funding for the proposed purchase and rehabilitation of two additional properties that would produce 266 affordable housing units:
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$28.5 million for 3860 Murphy Canyon Road in Kearny Mesa, which would create 105 affordable SRO units with supportive services, to be known as Willow Canyon.
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$35 million 2087 Hotel Circle South in Mission Valley, which would create 161 affordable SRO units with supportive services, to be known as Presidio Palms.
The State’s decision on those Homekey applications is expected by the end of the year.
San Diego has received more than $49.5 million from the Homekey program in previous rounds of funding to create 372 affordable rental apartments.
From The Virgin Islands Daily News:
Each apartment received new windows, doors, fixtures, flooring, cabinets, ceiling fans, LED lighting and a fresh coat of paint, according to a statement from housing developer MDG Design + Construction. The units are also equipped with new kitchen and bathroom fixtures designed with low water usage in mind as well as electric water heaters and EnergyStar appliances.
The buildings themselves have been updated with new plumbing and electrical systems and several features meant to increase storm resiliency. Last week’s ribbon cutting celebrated the completion of the first of four phases.
Michael Rooney, founding principal of MDG Design + Construction, called the achievement an “incredible example of how thoughtful partnerships and creative financing can create opportunities to support residents, build beautiful places to live, and keep affordable housing affordable.”
“Thanks to our many incredible partners, Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion will be a safe, clean, modern, and storm-resilient place to live for many years to come,” he said.
During the ribbon-cutting, Virgin Islands Housing Authority Executive Director Robert Graham called the completed units the “physical manifestation of our goal to replace all public housing in the territory.”
“We are committed to help every family that lives here build the future they want for their families,” he said later.
Read the Virgin Islands Daily News' article "First set of rehabilitated Walter I.M. Hodge apartments completed."