Hope Manor Apartments to Provide Job Training, Support Services
CHICAGO - October 14, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $4 million state investment to help build a housing development that will provide quality, affordable apartments and supportive services for 80 Veterans who are homeless. Approximately 75 jobs will be created during the construction of Hope Manor Apartments in Chicago.
"Our Veterans deserve to have a place to call home after sacrificing so much for our nation," said Governor Quinn. "The Hope Manor Apartments will provide safe homes for our Veterans and ensure that they receive the skills and support necessary to find stability."
Hope Manor will provide supportive housing for up to 80 Veterans who are homeless. The four-story building on Chicago's West Side will include 30 studio apartments, and 10 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom suites. Employment readiness classes, job training and coaching, computer training, a business resource center, a health and wellness clinic, recovery resources, individual counseling and case management will be available on the first floor of the development. Construction is expected to be completed in November 2011.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state's housing agency, invested approximately $4 million in federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding and Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits to build the development. The federal tax credits will generate an additional $8.8 million in private equity for construction of the building.
"Hope Manor Apartments demonstrates how important supportive housing is to end homelessness," said IHDA Executive Director Gloria L. Materre. "By investing in this development, we are getting our Veterans off the streets and giving them hope."
Developed by the Volunteers of America of Illinois, the Hope Manor Apartments will also be financed with a $1 million U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant, and a $174,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant. The City of Chicago donated the property to build Hope Manor, which will include a "green" roof and other environmentally-friendly features.
"Many Veterans continue to need facilities that provide supportive housing and services that allow them the opportunity to reach their fullest potential," said Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Dan Grant. "We salute and congratulate Volunteers of America for helping to fill this need with Hope Manor Apartments."
Hope Manor Apartments is the latest Illinois development to break ground as a result of federal housing stimulus dollars created by ARRA. To date, ARRA has provided a jumpstart to construction of 2,646 affordable rental homes, creating more than 3,000 jobs across Illinois.
Veterans represent up to 15 percent of America's homeless population. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 100,000 Veterans are homeless any given night.
For additional information on statewide resources available to Veterans, visit Veterans.Illinois.gov.
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