HOBART, IN – A Safe Haven Foundation (ASHF), a 25-year-old Chicago nonprofit dedicated to showcasing lasting solutions to preventing homelessness and rebuilding homeless lives, announced a groundbreaking ceremony at 7930 Iowa Street in Hobart, Indiana , for the USA to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the US Veterans Administration (VA) 75-unit apartment project called The Rauner Family Veteran Apartments by A Safe Haven Foundation.
This project, which is scheduled to open in spring 2021, is a supporting housing estate with 75 residential units. The homes are being made available to low-income, elderly, and disabled military veterans referred to A Safe Haven by local U.S. Veterans Administration offices. On-site services include supportive accommodations, individual case management, and peer support services.
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental support for homeless veterans with the case management and clinical services of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA offers these services to participating veterans at VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and community outreach clinics to help veterans find and maintain permanent housing. HUD has approved 75 veteran coupons for this project.
"Since 1994, A Safe Haven's mission has been to establish new paradigms and standards of care to address and resolve the root causes of poverty and homelessness, especially on behalf of our veterans," said ASHF President and Co-Founder Neli Vazquez Rowland. “As an organization co-founded by the US Army Military Veteran, projects like this are very important as they help us raise the bar in an A Safe Haven and expand our interim solutions for support, assistance and permanent housing. We take great pride in bringing our award-winning model and building beautiful places for our nation's heroes to live in the state of Indiana. "
Rowland added, "The City of Hobart is honored to have worked with A Safe Haven to prepare the Rauner family's 75-unit veteran housing. Soon, low-income veterans, the elderly and the disabled will have a place to stay Calling Home in our Beautiful City Hobart prides itself on the wonderful organization the Silverstone property has attracted and we are confident that the veteran housing complex will inspire further developments in this area. "
In addition to rental home tax credits (HUD / VA) of over $ 20 million, loan volume, and other funding provided by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), former Illinois governor and venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, and His wife Diana Rauner have donated a generous US $ 1,000,000 to the A Safe Haven Foundation in support of funding and long-term ongoing support.
To make this development a reality, the management team of the A Safe Haven Foundation has been working on this project with KMA Companies as development partner and the City of Hobart for almost three years.
The 75 apartments will feature fully furnished apartments, a flexible meeting / common room, exercise room, laundry room, bicycle storage room, and a beautifully professionally landscaped courtyard with an outdoor terrace, the US flag and flag from all branches of the military. On the way to the main entrance is a Bronze Star memorial to Michael J. Rowland, a decorated Korean War veteran and father of A Safe Haven co-founder and US Army veteran Brian M. Rowland.
"There are so many individuals and organizations involved in this project that it would not be possible without their constant, long-term support," said Neli Vazquez Rowland.
“First and foremost, I'd like to express my special thanks to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for their guidance and assistance. We would also like to thank former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and his wife Diana Rauner for their generous gift to A Safe Haven. We are also under the leadership of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor, the U.S. Veterans Administration, Indiana Housing Community Development Authority, the City of Hobart, Lake County Community Economic Development Department, Cinnaire Investment Corporation and the Multifamily Coalition for Affordable Housing and The National Bank of Indianapolis for helping make this project a reality. We would also like to thank the Indiana Veterans Advisory Board of the A Safe Haven Foundation, led by Pat O & # 39; Donnell, Veterans Radio, Dan Mills of the American Legion, Bob Carnegie of DAV, Bill Emerson, Jim Chancellor, and Victor Baker. Without the support of these people and organizations, an ambitious and substantial project like this would not be possible. Most of all, we are very grateful for the privilege of working with so many dedicated and caring national, local and veteran advocates, ”she said.
