Dozens of dignitaries gathered recently in Midvale, Utah, to participate in groundbreaking ceremonies for LifeStart Village, a public/private venture that once completed will provide 24 co-housing apartments, 15 rental units, and 8 lease-to-own single-family homes to homeless women and their children. All units will be built and centered around a small community park.

Women and their children who reside in the LifeStart Village will live in a supported environment. Once residents succeed as renters they can choose to participate in homebuyer education programs to purchase a lease-to-own home in this community or another. Total estimated costs are $5.5 million, including $1 million from HUD in CDBG, HOME and Continuum of Care resources.

Sen. Bennett addresses the audience at the groundbreaking ceremony.	Sen. Bennett, HUD Field Office Director Russell Beckley, and Utah Housing Corp. President Bill Erickson break ground at LifeStart Village.

The new venture is a product of a partnership between HUD and Utah Housing Corporation, Olene Housing Trust Fund and others.

"LifeStart Village is an innovative addition to Utah's social services programs," said U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett at the groundbreaking ceremonies. Bennett, a member of Utah's congressional delegation, is on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee. Bennett said LifeStart Village is an example of where "affordable housing and homeownership opportunities are made available, and can be a unifying factor in strengthening a community."

"LifeStart Village will be a place of hope…where homeless women and their children will have a better chance to break the cycle of poverty and succeed," said Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini.

Prior to the groundbreaking event, Russell Beckley, Kelly Jorgensen, and Pauline Zvonkovic of the Utah HUD staff were given a tour by Salt Lake County officials of local projects supported by HUD funds. One of these was Campbell Court, a project that combined rental town homes for previously homeless women and their children with efficiency units serving previously homeless single women.

Children play and help clean-up at Campbell Court while HUD and county officials tour the property.	Campbell Court apartments.