OVERVIEW In January, 2009 we were introduced to the Community Support Network Program of the SIU school of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. We had been contacted by a mutual friend who thought our two groups would be a perfect match. The staff of the CSN program had a vision for clean, safe, affordable housing for their very low-income SMI participants, but they did not know how to begin to reach that goal. After Linscott Park Development and key CSN staff came together, we knew we had a great rapport and with our shared vision for affordable housing we began the journey to make it happen! Please read on for more details! 1. FUNDING PLAN 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3. SIU COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORK MEMBERS 4. AERIAL OF PROPOSED SITE (EXISTING) 5. EXISTING CONDITIONS OF PROPOSED SITE 6. PROPOSED SITE PLAN 7. COLOR RENDERING OF PROPOSED APARTMENT BUILDING AND OFFICES 1
FUNDING PLAN (in progress) Permanent Supportive Housing for People with Severe Mental Illness currently in funding application phase/architectural drawing phase funding planned as follows: Pre-development Funding Linscott Park Development $5,000 Capital Funding (estimated) City of Springfield Home Funds $75,000 City of Springfield CDBG Funds $225,000 City of Springfield TIF Funds $100,000 Illinois Housing Development Authority $1,250,000 Trust Funds Illinois Housing Development Authority $1,250,000 HOME Funds DCEO Energy Grant $48,000 Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) $288,000 Rental Assistance Illinois Housing Development Authority Rental Housing Support Program to be paid quarterly Services Funding (to be determined) Southern Illinois University Community Support Network Program Operating Budget (ongoing) Illinois Department of Human Services Department of Mental Health 2
PROJECT DESCRIPTION Linscott Park Developments, LLC plans to demolish two vacant and blighted buildings at 1135 N. 9th St, in Springfield, Illinois and build 36 units of affordable rental housing. The project will provide 36 units of permanent supportive housing to individuals with mental illness, 8 of those households will also be homeless, all with incomes <30% AMI. The building will be a mix of 23 one-bedroom units (550 s.f.) and 13 studio units (330 s.f.). Each unit will have a kitchen and bathroom. All first floor units will be adaptable and two units will be fully accessable. The project is located in a HUD Qualified Census Tract, TIF District, Empowerment Zone. The property (an old Hardees restaurant and metal warehouse building) has been vacant for over five years. The site has experienced vandalism, significant blight, and general nuisances for the surrounding properties. Tenant Targeting Unit Summary Income Levels Tenants 28 Units mix of Studio & <30% AMI Individual with mental illness 1 Bedrooms 8 Units mix of Studio & <30% AMI Individual with mental illness 1 Bedrooms and are homeless Support Services The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine will provide support services to the tenants of the building through their Community Support Network (CSN) program. CSN offers intensive and comprehensive recovery oriented mental health services to individuals with mental illnesses. These services include intensive case management, up to daily medication administration, training, and monitoring, psychosocial rehabilitation such as activities of daily living and social skills training, individual and group psychotherapy, financial case management and representative payeeship services, socialization and recreation therapy, nursing services including intensive coordination with primary medical care, and individual placement and employment services. Site Amenities Common areas include a 2,275 s.f. Resource Center for organized activities, entertainment, resident programs, private and group counseling offices, as a site for informal gatherings, and a City of Springfield Police Kiosk for informal drop-ins designed for the residents of the building. It will be equipped with a kitchenette, large flat screen television, and furnished with tables and chairs and comfortable furniture in a conversational seating area. The Resource Center will house the offices of the property manager and CSN staff. Other common areas include two first floor laundry room facilities in the building. The project will feature ecologically friendly components such as: increase green space on the site, use locally produced materials, use materials with a recycled content (ex: steel, concrete, flooring), low flow toliets and sinks, energy star appliances, high efficiency water heaters and HVAC units, and have garden on site for tenant use. 3
PROJECT DESCRIPTION continued GOALS Primary goal: To develop permanent decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable rental housing for individuals with mental illness Linscott Park Development has designed an apartment building to house 36 units of permanent supportive housing, including 8 homeless households. CSN s patient population consists of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) along with numerous co-occurring medical disorders and/or substance abuse disorders. In order to be eligible for CSN s services, these individuals must have a history of failed treatment efforts with less intensive levels of outpatient services. CSN is in need of safe affordable housing for their clients. It is their vision to provide on-site services to ensure the success of the individuals. Goal: Help Stabilize the Housing Market in the Medical District The property is within Medical District. St. John s Hospital, Memorial Hospital and SIU School of Medicine are all within several blocks of the property. The selected property at 1135 North 9th Street has reportedly been vacant since 2004. The parcel was once a Hardees Restaurant and an accessory warehouse building. Linscott Park Development has an option on the property. The property is within Tract Code #17167000900 which has been identified as an area of greatest need. The scale of the building (only two stories) abutting commercial and residential properties will blend into the neighborhood. The property is also located on the northeast edge of the Enos Park neighborhood. Goal: To include multiple community integration efforts Of the 36 total units, two units will be fully accessible and 16 units will be adaptable. A Springfield Police Department Kiosk will be located in the Resource Center. o The Springfield Police Department has a close relationship with the Enos Park Homeowners Neighborhood Association and CSN. A community meeting space will be located within the Resource Center. o We hope that the Enos Park Homeowners Neighborhood Association, the Springfield Police Department, and other mainstream community groups use the space and visit the tenants in a time of non-crisis. A new community garden will be created at the southeast corner of the parcel o Hope Springs Apartments tenants will have access to this space for horticulture therapy and for a variety of community focused gardening activities. Community Plans City of Springfield s Consolidated Plan The need for permanent supportive housing is evidenced through the City of Springfield s 2008 Annual Action Plan s Priority #1 to create affordable housing through the promotion of new construction and the demolishing of abandoned structures contributing to slum and blight (pgs 11-12). One of the City s objectives is to build 50 units of affordable housing (pg 11) and 100 units of supportive housing (pg 15). This project will help them meet their goals by: demolishing two adbandoned blighted structures and building 36 units of new affordable housing targeting 36 units as permanenet supportive housing. 4
PROJECT DESCRIPTION continued City of Springfield, 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, 2004-2014 The primary goal of the 10-Year Plan is that all chronically homeless individuals and families by 2014 have housing options and support services that will enable them to secure and maintain decent, safe, and sanitary affordable housing. Specifically by 2014, the plan calls for 2000 new affordable housing units to be developed. This project will develop 36 units of affordable housing in Springfield. Eight of those units will be reserved for homeless individuals. The Illinois Medical District at Springfield: Master Plan The property is located within Medical District. It is commercially zoned on 9th Street, a busy arterial. The proposed development meets several general strategies outlined in the Plan. Brings investment into the Disctrict Helps define the District s far east boundary on 9th Street The new buildings will not turn their back to the neighborhood by placing parking and waste recepticles to the west of the site nearest the neighborhood The proposed building is only two stories tall and blends within the existing neighborhood heights. Adds an additional medical use in a residential building in the District Enos Park Tax Increment Financing District Plan This site is a part of the Enos Park Tax Increment Financing District (TIF), which states infrastructure and housing in its Redevelopment Plan. The Hope Springs Apartment project fits the scope of the TIF Redevelopment Plan. This project fits into several other City of Springfield initiatives: Hope Springs Apartments will follow Cool Cities guidelines to compliment Mayor Davlin s commitment to reducing the threat of global warming Participate in Springfield s Springfield Green Adopt-A-Street program Hope Springs Apartments will join the Springfield In Bloom program which promotes street-side beautification of Springfield residences and business This project will meet three of the Governor s Task Force on Affordable Housing initiatives. Hope Springs Apartments will serve: 36 households at <30% MFI 36 households with persons with a disability 8 households homeless 5
COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORK GETTING TO KNOW CSN S MEMBERS Community Support Network (CSN) is an intensive outreach program that provides comprehensive services for psychiatrically disabled individuals. The majority of these individuals also have co-occurring medical disorders. A typical consumer in our program is in their late 30s, male, single, employed part-time, has a supportive family living nearby, takes public transportation or rides a bicycle, has aging parents, and needs support and medication to manage their mental illness. We currently have ~70 individuals in our program. 11 are employed 20 are actively seeking employment Most have incomes at <30% AMI (<$13,860) All were living in Springfield when they entered the CSN program Most were living with their parents when they entered the CSN program 12 drive automobiles 50% have family nearby 57% are connected to the community through social groups (church, volunteer work, etc) 10 individuals were in the military/have served our country when they experienced their first break or their illness rendered them unable to continue serving. 27 were in advanced education and/or professional careers (e.g. Law School, Julliard School of Music, Kibbutz in Israel, Art Institute, German Teacher, etc ) Many of their elderly parents have had to work long past retirement in order to assist their adult children in securing housing and maintaining basic daily comforts in a safe neighborhood. Income The majority of the clients served by CSN receives Social Security Disability and is eligible for medical benefits through Medicaid and Medicare. As such, monthly incomes are limited and the majority must make ends meet on $700-$800 a month. As with all of us struggling with the economy, this amount has to cover housing, utilities, food, medication co-pays and various other essential items for day to day living. During the initial stabilization phase of the program, CSN will often assume payeeship of Social Security Disability checks and work out a spending program that helps the members prioritize their funds to achieve their goals. Once the member achieves some stabilization in housing and basic self-care, CSN encourages employment. Employment plays an integral role in the achievement and maintenance of stability and in obtaining recovery oriented goals. Employment CSN has a supportive employment program and a contract with the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services to assist our clients in obtaining and maintaining employment to assist them in their Recovery. Currently 11 of our clients are employed and 20 members are very actively seeking employment. CSN has also adopted a section of Madison Avenue and our clients volunteer to keep this section clean. Our group has also volunteered on several occasions with the park district to assist in picking up litter and helping to clean up various areas. 6
COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORK GETTING TO KNOW CSN S MEMBERS continued Community Interaction CSN offers regular and ongoing group activities, a monthly family psycho education group, individual therapy and various community outings. We have partnered with the Springfield Police Department s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers and have gone to the State Fair, fishing trips and even conducted a fundraiser auction with the assistance of these officers. Transportation The majority of the clients served rely on CSN staff or public transportation to complete their activities of daily living including keeping doctor appointments, doing laundry, grocery shopping or other errands and/or going to work. Medications CSN staff delivers medications daily to about 30 of the 68 clients served. Others receive their medications three days a week or once weekly. The intensive services provided by CSN in the community assists our clients in maintaining stability and afford them the opportunity to live high quality meaningful lives independently in the community. Need for Housing There is a significant lack of safe, affordable housing for individuals living on a fixed income. Landlords are reluctant to rent to this population and often it is the predatory landlord who victimizes the individual with mental illness. The majority of these individuals are only able to maintain independent living in this manner with the intensive outreach services provided by CSN. Cost Efficient Model Studies have shown that supportive housing with case management, substance abuse services, and medical care lead to decreased dollars spent in other health care and corrections arenas. This includes decreased costs of inpatients stays, reductions in incarcerations and reduced use of emergency rooms and shelter facilities. This leads ultimately to reductions in cost to city, state and federal government. It is CSN s goal to combine safe affordable housing at Hope Springs Apartments with our intensive outreach services as described below, to truly allow our consumers the experience of living in a safe peaceful setting and being a contributing member of a neighborhood and of the bigger community in which they live. 7
AERIAL VIEW OF PROPOSED SITE 8
135 S. Palmer Drive, Suite 200 EXISTING CONDITIONS AT PROPOSED SITE 9
135 S. Palmer Drive, Suite 200 PROPOSED SITE PLAN 10
PERSPECTIVE RENDERING OF PROPOSED APARTMENT BUILDING AND OFFICES 11