News Details

National Church Residences to Hold Grand Opening for The Commons at Livingston

June 14, 2011

East Columbus location marks organization’s first facility for low-income and formerly homeless veterans

Columbus, Ohio—National Church Residences announced today that it will hold a grand opening ceremony for The Commons at Livingston, a permanent supportive housing apartment building for disabled and formerly homeless veterans, at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 29.  The east Columbus site is located at 3341 E. Livingston Avenue (43227), between Zettler and Barnett Roads, behind National Church Residences Center for Senior Health Center.  The Commons at Livingston is National Church Residences’ fourth permanent supportive housing facility, and the organization’s first supportive housing facility exclusively for veterans.  Services at the Commons at Livingston will mirror those provided at The Commons at Grant, National Church Residences’ existing downtown permanent supportive housing facility at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Fulton Street, which opened in 2003.  The Veterans Administration will provide supportive services and case management at the facility.  Military and Humvee support at the ceremony will be provided by soldiers from the Ohio National Guard, who will also raise the American and POW flags.  Additional support will be provided by American Legion Post 283.

The three-story building will consist of 50 one-bedroom apartment units; 25 units will be available to single, low-income veterans with annual earnings at or below 60% of the area median income (approximately $28,860, per 2010 income limits).  The remaining 25 units will offer permanent, supportive housing for formerly homeless veterans who are candidates of the Community Shelter Board’s “Rebuilding Lives” initiative.  The objective of the initiative is to help end the cycle of homelessness by creating permanent, supportive housing. Supportive housing is a strategic means of linking residents to those services, such as social, educational, therapeutic, vocational, and health care support programs necessary to stabilize and maintain housing and affect lifestyle change.  The Commons at Livingston will include a community room; computer resource room; 24-hour staffed entry; meeting room for resident services; and interior and exterior security cameras.  On-site supportive services will be available to all 50 residents of The Commons at Livingston.   All units will receive rent subsidies via the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority project-based housing choice vouchers.

Rebuilding Lives (RL) defines eligibility for permanent, supportive housing as a currently homeless individual with a disabling condition, who has either been homeless for at least 120 days or who has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness.

HUD defines a chronically homeless (CH) person as an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition, who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more or who  has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years.

The Franklin County Veteran Services Commission is providing move-in kits and furnishings for resident rooms.  AT&T will underwrite the cost of the resident resource room, with items such as computer, printers, and basic office equipment.

Funding for The Commons at Livingston is provided by:

  • The City of Columbus
  • Franklin County
  • Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati
  • Ohio Housing Finance Agency
  • National Affordable Housing Trust
  • Huntington Bank
  • Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority
  • Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin County
  • U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Community Shelter Board
 
Total Development Cost                 $7,112,374 ($142,247/unit)
Total Construction Cost                 $4,305,959 ($86,119/unit)    
 
Speakers at the event will include:
Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman
  • John Campbell (central district director, Office of Senator Rob Portman)
  • U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi (12th district of Ohio)
  • Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks
  • Hearcel Craig (president pro-tem, Columbus City Council)
  • Michelle Heritage (executive director, Community Shelter Board)
  • Larry Roberts (president, Franklin County Veterans Commission)
  • John Glacken (associate director, Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center)
  • Doug Garver(executive director, Ohio Housing Finance Agency)
  • Charles Hillman (president & CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority)
  • Andrew Howell (executive vice president & COO, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati)
  • Jim Kunk (central Ohio region president, Huntington Bank)
  • Ben Famous (regional representative, Office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown)
  • Tom Pelto (president, AT&T Ohio)
  • Tony Ruscilli (president, Ruscilli Construction Co., Inc.)
  • Landau Murphy (U.S. veteran)
  • Floyd Jones (chair, National Church Residences board of directors)
  • Thomas W. Slemmer (president & CEO, National Church Residences )
According to National Church Residences President & CEO Thomas W. Slemmer,  “National Church Residences has received phenomenal cooperation on The Commons at Livingston from Mayor Coleman, Columbus City Council, the Franklin County Commissioners, the Community Shelter Board, and, most notably, from the Veterans Administration.  In conjunction with our many financial partners, who have clearly demonstrated a perceptive comprehension of the need for permanent supportive housing to serve not only the formerly homeless and low-income, but, in the case of The Commons at Livingston, those who have served our country in the armed forces, National Church Residences is proud to extend our mission, yet again, to the citizens of Columbus, and to be part of a proven, effective method to end the cycle of homelessness.”

National Church Residences is the nation’s largest not-for-profit developer and manager of affordable senior and family housing. Founded in 1961 with headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, National Church Residences owns and/or manages 330+ affordable senior and family-based communities in 28 states and Puerto Rico, as well as several health care facilities in Ohio.


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