State providing $8-million for nearly 100 units of supportive housing

The state has announced the award of nearly $8 million in funding to support the creation or preservation of almost 100 units of supportive housing.

Lt. Governor Karen Polito and Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Janelle Chan made the announcement at the future site of FORWARD at the Rock (Friends or Relatives With Autism and Related Disabilities) in Dennis. The development will create eight units of supportive housing for adults with autism.

The awards include $5.5 million in state funding, 28 project-based state housing vouchers, and will leverage $2.5 million from the National Housing Trust Fund. These seven developments will provide housing with supportive services for vulnerable populations across the state, including homeless families and individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities and adults with autism.

The National Housing Trust Fund is a federal program to support the development of affordable housing for low-income individuals and households, with supportive services. The Department of Housing and Community Development worked in coordination with the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) to make the combined $8 million available for the seven projects. Comprehensive support services, may include education, skills training, childcare, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and comprehensive case management.

2018 Supportive Housing Awards:

FORWARD at the Rock, Dennis

FORWARD at the Rock is a production project that will create eight units of permanent supportive, single-room-occupancy (SRO) housing for adults with autism. The project sponsor, FORWARD (Friends Or Relatives With Autism and Related Disabilities), is an advocacy group founded in 2013 for the specific purpose of developing housing for this vulnerable population, and has partnered with the Housing Assistance Corporation on Cape Cod. CapeAbilities will provide comprehensive supportive services.

Carlos Vega Townhomes, Holyoke

Carlos Vega Townhomes will preserve 18 units of family housing for farmworkers in Western Massachusetts, and provide necessary accessibility improvements to the property, allowing existing households to age in place. The project is owned by Valley Housing Development Corporation. Wayfinders is the project sponsor and will provide resident services to tenants.

Sergeant House Expansion, Northampton

Sergeant House Expansion will update and expand a traditional 15-room SRO owned by Valley Community Development Corporation, and creating 31 enhanced SRO units (16 new units; 15 preserved units), each with its own kitchenette and bathroom.

Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village Phase II, Pittsfield

Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village Phase II, sponsored by Soldier On, Inc., is a new production project that will create 14 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless female veterans. Soldier On will provide supportive services targeted to female veterans who have experienced trauma, including military sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress.

Germantown House, Quincy

Germantown House will produce a five-unit congregate home for extremely low income adults with physical and developmental disabilities. The project sponsor is NeighborWorks of Southern Mass., and 24-hour on-site services will be provided by Work, Inc.

Headwaters Replacement Housing, Wareham/Sandwich

Headwaters Replacement Housing, sponsored by Residential Rehabilitation Housing, Inc., will produce ten units of SRO housing for very low income adults with disabilities. The project design is highly responsive to the particular physical and environmental needs of the population to be served. Twenty-four hour on-site supportive services will be provided by Latham Centers.

149 Belmont Street Preservation and Stabilization, Worcester

149 Belmont Street is an existing supportive housing project owned by Worcester East Side Community Development Corporation. The project currently provides nine studio apartments for formerly homeless adults with disabilities.