A former assisted living-facility is being renovated into permanent supportive housing for 104 homeless seniors 55 and older, including veterans, in Dallas.
Catholic Charities Dallas has partnered with the Catholic Housing Initiative, which purchased the facility, to provide housing with wrap-around social services for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents, with priority given to the chronically homeless.
Catholic Charities Dallas will manage the St. Jude Center and its programming. It is working with Metrocare Services, CitySquare, Veterans Affairs, and the Dallas Housing Authority to identify and case-manage residents. The team hopes to welcome its first residents later this month.
Catholic Charities USA, the national office for the Catholic Charities ministry, has partnered with Ashley and Andy Williams, stars of HGTV’s “Flip or Flop Fort Worth” and military veterans, on the renovation of the center. In addition, Drew and Jonathan Scott, stars of HGTV’s “Property Brothers,” have donated furniture from Scott Living.
“We are passionate about revitalizing distressed communities and empowering veterans who face many challenges,” said the Williamses. “This space will provide much-needed support and access to affordable housing, and we are happy to be part of this project.”
The $6 million redevelopment, with over half for renovations, is financed through a private/public partnership between the city of Dallas, Dallas County, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Frost Bank, private donors, and Catholic Housing Initiative equity contributions.
Affordable housing is a priority for Catholic Charities USA, with its agencies operating about 36,000 units of affordable housing nationwide.
“We tend to serve the most vulnerable,” said Curtis Johnson, senior director of national housing strategy for Catholic Charities USA. “They not only need housing, but they need supportive services.”
Johnson added that Catholic Charities USA’s goal is to align its member strengths. “I visit members, find out their needs, and try to figure out how we can align to work together to continue to meet the affordable housing needs that are severely undermet across the country.”
