HOBART, IN - A Safe Haven Foundation (ASHF), a 25-year-old Chicago nonprofit dedicated to presenting permanent solutions to help prevent homelessness and rebuild lives from homelessness, announced a groundbreaking ceremony at 7930 Iowa Street, Hobart, Indiana for the US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and US Veterans Administration (VA) 75 Unit Apartment Project called The Rauner Family Veteran Apartments by A Safe Haven Foundation.
This project, scheduled to open in spring 2021, is a 75 Apartment Units Supportive Housing development. The apartments will be made available to low income, senior and disabled military veterans who are referred to A Safe Haven by the local US Veteran Administration offices. Onsite services will include supportive housing, individualized case management and peer support services.
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA provides these services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers (VAMCs) and community-based outreach clinics to help Veterans find and sustain permanent housing. HUD has approved 75 vouchers for use by veterans for this project.
“Since 1994, A Safe Haven’s mission has always been to set new paradigms and standards of care to address and solve the root causes of poverty and homelessness, especially on behalf of our Veterans,” said ASHF President and Co-Founder Neli Vazquez Rowland. “As a US Army Military Veteran co-founded organization, projects like this one are very important as it helps us at a A Safe Haven raise the bar and expand our transitional, supportive and permanent housing solutions. We are very proud to help bring our award-winning model and to build beautiful places to live for our nation’s heroes in the state of Indiana.”
Rowland added: "The City of Hobart is honored to have partnered with A Safe Haven in preparation for the 75-Unit Rauner Family Veteran Apartments. Soon, low-income, senior and disabled veterans will have a place to call home in our beautiful City. Hobart is proud that the Silverstone property has attracted a wonderful organization, and we are confident the veterans housing complex will entice more development in this area."
In addition to over $20 million in Federal HUD/VA rental housing tax credits, bond volume and other financing secured from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), former Governor of Illinois and Venture Capitalist, Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana Rauner, have generously gifted $1,000,000 to A Safe Haven Foundation to support financing and long-term ongoing support.
To make this development a reality the leadership team at A Safe Haven Foundation has worked with KMA Companies as the development partner and the City of Hobart on this project for almost three years.
The 75 apartments will showcase fully furnished apartments, a flexible meeting space/community room, exercise room, laundry room, bike storage and a beautifully, professionally landscaped outdoor patio courtyard, the US Flag and a flag from every branch of the military. The walkway to the main entrance will feature a Bronze Star monument 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 and long term support,” said Neli Vazquez Rowland.
“First and foremost, I would like to give special thanks to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, for their leadership and support. We also want to thank the former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana Rauner for their generous gift to A Safe Haven. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the leadership of the Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor, the US Veterans Administration, Indiana Housing Community Development Authority, City of Hobart, Lake County Community Economic Development Department, Cinnaire Investment Corporation, Multifamily Coalition for Affordable Housing and The National Bank of Indianapolis for helping make this project a reality. We also want to thank the A Safe Haven Foundation’s Indiana Veterans Advisory Board lead by Pat O’Donnell, Veterans Radio, Dan Mills of the American Legion, Bob Carnegie of DAV, Bill Emerson, Jim Chancellor and Victor Baker. Without the assistance of these individuals and organizations, an ambitious and essential project like this one could not be possible. Most of all we are very grateful for the privilege to work with so many committed and caring national, local and veterans advocates,” she said.