Lighthouse Youth & Family Services is one step closer to its goal of ending youth homelessness in Cincinnati by 2020. The opening of the Sheakley Center for Youth is providing 39 permanent supportive housing units as well as a shelter with 36 beds, a resource center, and a host of other services to aid this population.
“Research shows that the longer youth experience homelessness, the harder it is to escape homelessness and contribute to stronger families, communities, and economies,” says Cathy Goold, vice president and chief administrative office for Lighthouse Youth & Family Services. “To exit homelessness permanently, youth require housing and support services tailored to their unique developmental needs. … Lighthouse’s goal is get people between the ages of 18 and 24 into safe housing as quickly as possible.”
Lighthouse partnered with local developer Model Group on the adaptive reuse of a warehouse to create this multifaceted project.
“Model’s mission is to positively transform communities,” says Jennifer Walke, senior project manager at Model Group. “Sheakley is a game changer for at-risk youths.”
The emergency shelter and resource center, which is primarily financed with state and federal New Markets Tax Credits, opened in January, with 36 individual bedrooms and bathrooms and help from a case manager. Homeless youth can visit the center during the day to do laundry, take a shower, or have a hot meal. A registered nurse also provides health care and first aid.
Residents of the $7.5 million permanent supportive housing community, which is primarily financed with low-income housing tax credits, began to move in during March.
“The 39 additional apartments in the Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth expand Lighthouse’s capacity to offer young people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless the necessary support and resources they to become self-sufficient,” says Goold.
Both homeless youth and youth aging out of the foster system are being served. Strategies to End Homelessness, the Cincinnati area continuum of care, has committed rental subsidies for each of the units. Each resident has access to health care, experts in mental health and substance abuse, and job and education assistance.
“Residents are experiencing success in moving toward achieving their goals for self-sufficiency,” adds Goold. “The training kitchen is proving especially valuable for teaching life skills such as cooking simple meals.”
