(From left to right) Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan, City of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, EDEN Inc. Executive Director Kathy Kazol, Councilman Ward 17 Matt Zone, State of Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher

Emerald Commons Grand Opening Celebration

On Thursday, May 31, 2007, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, Mayor Frank Jackson, Councilman Matt Zone joined CHN, EDEN, and others for the Emerald Commons Grand Opening Celebration. Emerald Commons, a collaboration between CHN and EDEN, Inc., is a part of HOUSING first, Cleveland's permanent supportive housing coalition. HOUSING first was created in 2002 to find lasting solutions to the problem of long-term homelessness. The mission of Cleveland's permanent supportive initiative is to provide affordable apartments with on-site supportive services in a secured living environment. This attractive apartment building is based on proven models in other cities including New York, Chicago and Columbus, and will service long-term homeless individual who typically suffer from mental illness, addition and/or debilitating diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Located at W. 79 Street and Madison Avenue in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, the newly constructed Emerald Commons features 52 efficiency apartments, plus an on-site mix of experienced social services available exclusively to the building's residents. Ample common spaces encourages socialization and used to conduct job and skills training, and self-help groups.

The project was developed by CHN, and managed by EDEN, Inc., the region's most experienced special needs housing provider. Cleveland's most experienced practitioners including Mental Health Services, Inc., AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland and Recovery Resources deliver on-site services. Additional partners to the project include Sisters of Charity Foundation, Enterprise, The Cleveland Foundation, Forest City Enterprises, and KeyBank. Equity through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit provided the majority of the capital for constructing the building. The project has secured additional capital commitments from the State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland, the Federal Home Loan Bank and other private sources. Operating subsidies provided through Shelter Plus Care. Service dollars come from local county funded boards, federal Medicaid dollars, the Continuum of Care and private foundations. .

Equity through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit provided the majority of the capital for construction. The project secured additional capital funds including County HOME, State HOME, City HOME, the Federal Home Loan Bank and other private sources. Operating subsidies provided through Shelter Plus Care. Service dollars come from local county funded boards, federal Medicaid dollars, the Continuum of Care and private foundations.

Other permanent supportive housing developments are underway in the Cleveland area including The Liberty at St. Clair (Glenville neighborhood), South Pointe Commons (Clark-Fulton neighborhood) and Edgewood Park (Slavic Village neighborhood).