CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A new affordable housing development is breaking ground Wednesday in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, according to community-based nonprofit developer OTR Community Housing (OTRCH).
The 44-unit service-enriched building called Gloria's Place will transform a parking lot into a vibrant community for single adults who have experienced chronic homelessness.
Gloria's Place will provide community meeting spaces, case manager offices, and 24/7 onsite support for residents.
OTR Community Housing says service-enriched housing projects like Gloria's Place are recognized as a best practice for ending homelessness.
"Just as important as providing a physical home to those who are currently unhoused, this project will support residents in addressing physical health and mental health issues," the announcement from OTR Community Housing reads.
The over $14 million development is almost fully funded by a $10 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit grant, $2.5 million in funding to prevent homelessness from the City of Cincinnati, $900,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, and $600,000 from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's HOME funds.
The financing is being provided by Cincinnati-based Stock Yards Bank & Trust and the National Equity Fund (NEF).
The local philanthropic community has also provided funding to help fill the gaps, OTR Community Housing explains.
Strategies to End Homelessness' most recent data from 2023 reveals that the number of people sleeping outside in Cincinnati increased by nearly half in one year from 752 in 2022 to 1,100 in 2023.
"The data shows that the need is significant," President and CEO of Strategies to End Homelessness Kevin Finn states. "The people who are most likely to experience homelessness and chronic homelessness are people who are vulnerable due to a health or disabling condition."
"Gloria's Place and OTR Community Housing provide exactly the type of supportive housing our community needs to ensure that our most vulnerable neighbors have a safe and affordable place to live because no one should be homeless," Finn continues.
"This state-of-the-art facility and programmatic design at Gloria's Place are the gold standard for serving our community's most vulnerable homeless individuals," Director of Resident Services at OTRCH Andy Hutzel expresses. "It will be a tremendous asset for this neighborhood and our broader community in properly addressing homelessness for decades to come."
"Gloria's Place will be a crucial source of both housing and collaborative wrap-around services for residents to get and stay in a safe, secure environment," Director of Outreach and Crisis Services at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services Tara Immele shares.
The groundbreaking ceremony for Gloria's Place will occur on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at 2000 Dunlap Street.
This affordable housing project construction comes after the Connected Communities zoning proposal was approved by the city this year, allowing developers to construct "middle housing" such as duplexes, rowhomes, and small mixed-use buildings in downtown Cincinnati neighborhoods.
The proposal passed on June 5, 2024, and went into effect less than one month later, on July 1, 2024.