Providence Community Housing and Enterprise today announced the investment of $41 million in Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone low-income housing tax credit equity to renovate three senior apartment buildings and one multi-family apartment building as part of a partnership to redevelop 7,000 houses and apartments damaged by Hurricane Katrina for low-income seniors and families. The Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 provided the five states directly impacted by the hurricanes -- Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Florida -- with increased allocations of low-income housing tax credits and Community Development Block Grants to build affordable housing.
The four properties, with 474 affordable units, were formally closed by Providence in the last two weeks of December 2007. The Louisiana Housing Finance Agency (LHFA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development were integral components in each of these financial closing.
"To successfully bring people home will take public and private partnerships, national and local partnerships and Federal, State and City partnerships. By the end of the year we will welcome back 474 seniors and families, thanks to HUD, the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, Enterprise and a host of other partners in ministry," said Jim Kelly, President and CEO of Providence Community Housing.
The 10-story Nazareth Inn and six-story Nazareth II senior buildings are located in New Orleans East, along the edge of Lake Ponchartrain, and will feature a combined 270 apartments for seniors age 62 or older earning no more than 50 percent of area median income. These buildings are part of eight senior developments being rehabilitated by the Providence and Enterprise team, including the 106-unit Annunciation Inn in the Upper Ninth Ward's St. Roch neighborhood, which broke ground last month. Each property in Providence's senior housing portfolio will have project-based rental subsidies, which will ensure affordability for returning residents. These three senior properties will be open to returning residents by the end of 2008.
Each property will feature modernized units, multi-purpose space and kitchen, courtyard and significant residential amenities. In addition, Providence along with Christopher Homes and Catholic Charities of New Orleans will provide a comprehensive network of support services, including meal programs, mental health counseling, transportation, exercise therapy and nutritional guidance.
In addition, Providence, along with local co-developers Shawn Barney, Arthur McLin III, and Corey Wilson, will develop St. Bakhita Apartments in Marrero, Louisiana, just across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans in Jefferson Parish. Using an equity and permanent mortgage investment from Enterprise, Providence will build 100 new single-family rental townhomes for low-income families earning less than 60 percent of area median income. The site was chosen in part due to its proximity to thriving nearby family support services, schools and churches. The townhomes will include up to four bedrooms and integrate environmentally sustainable design features throughout the site. A new community center will also be built as a shared space for meetings, job training and after school programs for residents.
"Quality affordable housing is critical to the metropolitan area's recovery. Our collaboration with Providence represents a model partnership that effectively addresses the critical housing void, providing our neighbors the opportunity to return and allowing me to serve my community," said CLB Porter LLC President Shawn Barney.
"Enterprise is proud to partner with Providence to provide financial and technical assistance to rebuild its senior housing portfolio of 900 homes as well as create additional affordable housing for Gulf Coast families," said Jeff Donahue, president and chief execu
Source: PRnewsWire.com