ORLANDO, FL - Ability Housing’s Wayne Densch community was recently honored by the Corporation for Supportive Housing in its 30th Anniversary Champion and Innovation Awards, which were announced at the 2021 Supportive Housing Symposium.
CSH received nearly 130 nominations for its commemorative awards program. Each application was evaluated for its impact across various categories, including focus on equity, ingenuity and scalability. The Wayne Densch community was selected for the “Innovation — Quality in Supportive Housing Development” category; it is the only Florida development among the honorees.
Judges selected the community as a leading example of rehabilitation and conversion of transitional housing to high-quality supportive housing and health services through an innovative model of a public-private partnership with one of the nation’s largest health systems, AdventHealth. The $9 million renovation, which was completed in August 2020, transformed the community from 64 units of transitional housing to 75 high-quality apartments.
“As Ability Housing’s first development within the Central Florida community, this award is especially meaningful,” said Shannon Nazworth, President and CEO of Ability Housing. “Through this rehabilitation, the Wayne Densch community is better equipped to support its residents in a variety of ways — including financial education, health and wellness, community involvement and employment readiness. We hope this award will inspire more health care providers and housing developers to collaborate in support of housing as an extension of health care, and a critical social determinant of health.”
Through this awards program, CSH honored 60 changemakers, lawmakers, developers and initiatives that have helped advance supportive housing during the last three decades — celebrating the achievements and innovations that have made supportive housing a force for change in addressing chronic homelessness and racial inequity.
“The vast need for quality supportive housing across Florida continues to be our collective challenge and motivation. The CSH Southeast team proudly recognizes our regional partner, Ability Housing, for making and continuing to make significant inroads to fill those gaps with thoughtful and tenant-centered supportive housing,” said Deirdre Bolden, Director, CSH Southeast. “Through innovation and intention toward excellence, Ability Housing’s comprehensive programs and communities allow residents to not only achieve greater stability, but also empowers families and individuals to realize personal goals, attain better health, and overall wellness. CSH Southeast greatly values our collaboration to help all Florida residents thrive.”
"While we are proud of our work to advance supportive housing over the past three decades, our efforts would not have been achievable without the ingenuity and support of our partners," Deborah De Santis, President and CEO of CSH, said. "We congratulate Ability Housing for its selection, as well as for the success of its Wayne Densch community renovation.”
About Ability Housing: Ability Housing is an industry-leading not-for-profit multifamily rental housing developer dedicated to creating high-quality affordable housing. We invest in communities through properties that enhance their surrounding neighborhoods, improve each community’s quality of life, and connect residents with a network of voluntary support services. For more information, visit AbilityHousing.org, like the organization on Facebook and follow on Twitter (@AbilityHousing).
About CSH: The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) is the national champion for supportive housing, demonstrating its potential to improve the lives of very vulnerable individuals and families by helping communities create more than 385,000 real homes for people who desperately need them. CSH funding, expertise and advocacy have provided $1 billion in direct loans and grants for supportive housing across the country. Building on 30 years of success developing multiple and cross-sector partnerships, CSH engages broader systems to fully invest in solutions that drive equity, help people thrive, and harness data to generate concrete and sustainable results. By aligning affordable housing with services and other sectors, CSH helps communities move away from crisis, optimize their public resources, and ensure a better future for everyone. Visit us at www.csh.org.