Developer: National Church Residences

Architect: Berardi + Partners, Inc.

Major Funders: National Affordable Housing Trust; Huntington National Bank; Ohio Housing Finance Agency; city of Columbus; Franklin County; Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati; Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin County; Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Community Shelter Board

The first development of its kind in Ohio, The Commons at Livingston provides 25 one-bedroom apartments for disabled vets and another 25 one-bedroom apartments for chronically homeless and disabled vets.

Developed by nonprofit National Church Residences (NCR), the project was built on an existing NCR campus and is just two miles away from the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus, allowing many of Ohio's 2,300 homeless veterans to access key programs.

The development has enabled its veterans to achieve residential stability and become engaged in the community through work, education programs, and volunteering.

On-site services include case management via two full-time social workers, an employment resource center, and health and wellness programs.

Eight months after opening, 36 percent of the residents had secured steady employment. More had increased their income through VA pension benefits and other resources. In addition, the development has achieved LEED-Gold for its energy-efficient design.

“Every step of the way we pushed just a little bit further,” says Michelle Norris, NCR senior vice president.

All 50 apartments, which were leased in 30 days, receive project-based rental assistance from the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.

NCR financed the $7 million project with low-income housing tax credits, the Tax Credit Assistance Program, tax credit exchange funds, HOME funds, and other sources.