Community Housing Partnership and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Welcome 84 Formerly Homeless Adults to New Home
San Francisco – (April 17, 2008) – Community Housing Partnership (CHP) and Mercy Housing California (MHC) today hosted the Essex Grand Opening. Project partners, staff and tenants were joined by Mayor Gavin Newsom in celebrating the building as a solution to homelessness. Citi Community Capital and Enterprise sponsored the event.
"San Francisco homeless initiatives have quickly become a model as the right approach to ending chronic homelessness on a local, national and global level. San Francisco has proven that ending chronic homelessness is possible and no longer just an ideal," said Mayor Newsom.
After a year of rehabilitation work by co-developers CHP and MHC, the Essex has transformed from a mixed tourist and residential hotel into energy-efficient affordable housing for formerly homeless individuals in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. It is a seven-story building with 84 studio units, all of which have private bathrooms and kitchenettes. Tenants have access to over 3,000 square feet of community facilities.
Community Housing Partnership owns and operates the building, which features integrated property management and on-site supportive services including counseling and case management to help tenants achieve self-sufficiency. CHP also offers job training and civic engagement opportunities to all tenants.
"Our unique combination of property management and supportive services is a proven model for helping people overcome homelessness," said Jeff Kositsky, Executive Director of Community Housing Partnership. "By involving tenants in every aspect of the organization, CHP builds a strong sense of community and helps tenants build a safe and healthy future for themselves and their families."
The renovation of the Essex included environmentally sustainable materials and appliances with the assistance of a $55,000 grant from Enterprise Community Partners to integrate Enterprise's Green Communities® criteria - the only green affordable housing criteria in the country - to enhance the living and natural environments. Sustainable features include low-flow water fixtures, Energy Star lighting, a high-efficiency boiler, insulated pipes, green-certified carpet and bathroom surfaces, as well as re-used building materials.
"Providing affordable housing with on-site services is a key strategy to ending chronic homelessness," said Rich Gross, vice president, California Initiatives and Northern California
director, Enterprise. "We are honored to be part of this partnership to create environmentally-sustainable affordable homes for some of America's most vulnerable citizens. Supportive housing works."
The Essex was originally constructed in 1912. CHP and MHC began the $23 million dollar
project of redeveloping and rehabilitating the building in February of 2007 and completed construction in February 2008. This development was funded by the Mayor's Office of Housing and received crucial support from Citi Community Capital, which provided over $11 million for construction financing. Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. provided an $8.3 million low-income housing tax credit equity investment.
The City's Human Services Agency has provided a tenant services grant, ensuring that CHP can offer effective support services to tenants. The City's Local Operating Subsidy Program provides funding to ensure that monthly rent is affordable for each tenant. Additional support comes from funds approved by California voters under Proposition 46, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2002, allocated by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Community Housing Partnership (CHP) creates, implements, and demonstrates solutions to homelessness in San Francisco by working in partnership with people who would otherwise be without a home. CHP develops and operates high quality permanent affordable housing, integrating optional support services, job training and community organizing. We strive to break the cycle of homelessness by strengthening community, encouraging self-determination and involving tenants in every aspect of the organization. CHP owns, operates and/or provides services to 774 units of housing at 11 sites, serving more than 1,400 people annually.
Mercy Housing California (MHC) is a nonprofit housing development corporation with the mission of creating and strengthening healthy communities through the provision of quality, affordable, service-enriched housing for individuals and families who are economically poor. MHC has over 25 years experience in developing affordable housing in communities throughout northern and southern California. MHC has developed 109 properties with 6,308 units. MHC is part of the national Mercy Housing System.
Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. is a leading provider of the development capital and expertise it takes to create decent, affordable homes and rebuild communities. Enterprise leverages low-income housing, new markets and historic rehabilitation tax credits, short and long-term debt, and development services to capitalize projects that make a catalytic difference in communities. Enterprise has privately raised over $9 billion to finance more than 240,000 affordable rental and for-sale homes, create vital communities and help transform the lives of low-income Americans, particularly those at the lowest end of the economic scale. Currently, Enterprise is investing in communities at a rate of $1 billion a year. Visit www.enterprisecommunity.com to learn more about Enterprise's efforts to build communities and opportunity.
### |
