R2004-105 AUTHORIZING FUND REALLOCATION

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' CITY OF DECATUR. ILLINOIS HOME COMPETITIVE REALLOCATION Recognizing the need for development of new affordable rental housing, the City then worked with NHDC to construct an affordable rental housing project. The ten-unit C. Ezra West Townhomes, located just south of downtown Decatur, opened in May 2003 and was fully leased within a month. The City provided $123,000 in HOME C�IDO set-aside funds and additional operating funds toward this $1.3 million development. The City also rezoned the site to accommodate multi-family development. The C. Ezra West Townhomes have been recognized as an outstanding example of attractive, affordable new rental development. Through this development and many earlier projects,NHDC has acquired the expertise to develop rental housing for the chronically homeless if awarded funding under this NOFA. In addition to increasing the supply of new affordable housing (Priority Area 1 of the Consolidated Plan), the City has made significant strides toward its goals in Priority Area 2, providing additional supportive housing for the homeless, and Priority Area 3, providing additional supportive housing for persons with special needs. Decatur's initial commihnent to housing for the homeless and special needs populations began with the formation of the Decatur/Macon County Homeless CounciUContinuum of Caze in 1994. The City was one of six founding partners in the local Continuum of Caze system. When the Continuum received its first award for transitional housing and supportive services in the FY1995 competition, the community developed a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness in Decatur. The City continues to play a major role in this partnership and the activities of the Homeless Council, as described in the preceding narrative on chronic homelessness. In the past two years, the City has taken an even more direct role in providing housing for these populations, by allocating funds to three supportive housing developments described below. 'i • Elmwood Apartments (Permanent Supportive Housing for the Homeless). On October 22, II 2003, the ribbon was cut on Decatur's first permanent housing for the homeless. Elmwood Apartments, formerly a dilapidated historic apartment building in downtown Decatur, provides eight assisted rental units for individuals and families who have completed a transitional housing program but need ongoing case management. Elmwood was developed by Dove, Inc., a local faith-based nonprofit, in partnership with First Presbyterian Church, the City of Decatur, the State of Illinois, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The City committed $83,000 in HOME funds to the project for asbestos and lead hazard abatement. • Heritage Grove (Permanent Supportive Housing for Persons with Special Needs). In October 2002,Heritage Behavioral Health Center, a nonprofit provider of comprehensive behavioral health care and a partner in the Continuum of Care, completed development of Heritage Grove, its first permanent supportive housing proj ect. This attractive new apartment complex, adjacent to the Near North Redevelopment Project Area,provides 17 one-bedroom units for persons in treatment for serious and persistent mental illness. The City provided $50,000 in HOME funds toward construction of Heritage Grove, which is primarily funded through the HUD Section 811 program and the Illinois Housing Development Authority. • Herita�e Fields. Heritage Behavioral Health Center is now constructing its second permanent supportive housing project, Heritage Fields. This three-phased Planned Unit Development project will include a 34-unit apartment complex and a six-bed group home. The City PA�E 11