INDIANAPOLIS - Today, partners across public and private sectors joined the greater Indianapolis community to honor Indy veterans in an unprecedented way: breaking ground on the City’s first permanent supportive housing facility for homeless veterans.

Lincoln Apartments is an exciting project that will be located at 530 Holmes Avenue serving 75 of Indianapolis' formerly homeless veterans. The site has sat vacant since 1962 when the iron works foundry closed. The City donated the land and remediated environmental problems with $450,000 in grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and $50,000 from the state brownfields program. The City also kicked in $500,000 of HOME funds from HUD. Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis made an AHP Award of $500,000 through their member bank, the National Bank of Indianapolis

Others cooperating in the project include the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), who allocated federal housing tax credits along with an additional $300,000 grant to finance the deal. Great Lakes Capital Fund (GLCF) syndicated the purchase of these tax credits to provide $9.8 million in equity for Lincoln Apartments. The project is within a mile from the VA Medical Center and immediately north of a community health center on the City’s Westside.

The development team, who participated in the 2011 Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Institute includes: Building Blocks Non-Profit Housing Corporation (a non-profit affiliate of GLCF); Volunteers of America of Indiana, Inc.; Milner and Caringella; Roudebush VA Medical Center; Keystone Construction and Axis Architects.

Recognizing the need for permanent supportive housing, which provides housing and services to the chronically homeless, the Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative (IPSHI) launched in 2008 as a collaboration between IHCDA, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, and Great Lakes Capital Fund. As a part of IPSHI, the Institute is an intensive, interactive, technical training to help organizations move projects from concept to completion.

“I am proud to say that Indiana was among the first states to implement a statewide collaborative effort to look for long-term solutions in addressing homelessness,” said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman who chairs the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. “In just a few years since its inception, the Indiana Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative has not only been recognized with multiple national awards, but has provided nearly 1,000 housing units for our fellow Hoosiers.”

Volunteers of America Indiana will coordinate continuing care once the facility is open and serving Indiana veterans. Services will focus on continued stabilization of housing for the veteran and their development of skills, including healthy lifestyles, relationship building/reunification, appropriate utilization of community resources, employment counseling, improved financial stability and community involvement. Participation in services is voluntary and is based on those areas the veteran seeks to make changes in his/her life.

“After the IPSH Institute showed us the tools available to us as developers and financing agents, we were anxious to get to work and get our veterans off the streets and into facilities they could get the help they need,” President and CEO of Great Lakes Capital Fund (GLCF), Mark McDaniel, said.

“Volunteers of America is pleased to be part of this innovative and much-needed project,” said CEO of VOA Indiana, Tim Campbell, of Lincoln Apartments. “Creating a sense of home with permanency will transform the lives of these true American heroes.”

“I can’t think of a better way to honor and help those who have given of themselves to protect our precious freedom.“ said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. “This project is a symbol of the compassion, caring and the responsibility we have to care for our veterans who have fallen on hard times.”

Lincoln Apartments will be fully furnished when they open fall 2013. Most of the bedroom furnishings have been accounted for. However, the common areas and special purpose rooms will not be furnished as part of the project delivery. To this end, Lincoln Apartments is counting on the greater Indianapolis community to chip in and help make Lincoln Apartments the home our veterans deserve. The Lincoln Apartments Gift Registry may be accessed at http://bit.ly/ON15YF. This website will be updated with pictures and stories about Lincoln Apartments and its future veteran residents. Upon Lincoln Apartments’ completion in 2013, there will be a Dedication Ceremony on November 19, 2013, which is also the 150th Anniversary of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

**Photos of the renderings of Lincoln Apartments are available upon request.

About GLCF:
Great Lakes Capital Fund helps socially responsible corporations invest in affordable housing and community economic development activities. GLCF raises capital from corporations and financial institutions, and invests these resources into real estate development partnerships in Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and upstate New York. The partnerships receive essential equity for their developments. The investors receive a competitive internal rate of return on their investment through tax benefits; and the community receives high quality, affordably-priced housing and/or commercial developments that generate social and economic benefits for area residents. For more information please visit http://capfund.net.

About VOA:
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life – everything from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. Learn more at www.voa.org.