Permanent Supportive Housing Apartments Groundbreaking

Mike Saklar, Siena/Francis House's Executive Director, spoke at the Siena/Francis House Groundbreaking ceremony.

It was a celebration for the start of construction of 48 units of permanent supportive housing. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, February 10, 2012 by the Siena/Francis House in Omaha, Nebraska. Two buildings will hold a combined 48 efficiency-style apartments for single adults who are homeless and disabled. A third building will be an 11,000-square-foot community services center that will provide office, classroom and meeting space for supportive services.

Speakers included Mike Saklar, Siena/Francis House's Executive Director, Jim Suttle, Mayor of Omaha; Lee Terry, U.S. Congressman; and Ted Simpson, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority. Tim Severin, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), spoke about efforts to end homelessness and how this project contributes to that goal.

The $7.25 million project is funded in part by HUD's Supportive Housing Program. Siena/Francis House received a total of $753,129 of SHP funding via the FY 2009 Homeless Assistance Grants competition. In addition, other funding sources include Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka funds.

The 48 units of permanent supportive housing will serve homeless men and women, including the chronically homeless, by:

• Providing safe and appropriate housing for persons who are homeless and have a disabling condition, including persons having a mental illness, developmental disability, substance abuse disorder, physical disability, and post-traumatic disorder.
• Providing housing in close proximity to the Siena/Francis House's medical clinic, food services and laundry services facility, staff offices and human resources center.
• Providing housing at no cost to consumers who do not have a permanent source of income.
• Providing housing at little cost to consumers with limited resources.

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