December 2020



What's Happening!

1/11  Marketing Mondays
1/18  CMHA Closed: MLK Day
1/26  Board Meeting

Contact Us
Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority
1627 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45214
(513) 721-4580
 
CMHAConnect
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Hello from the CEO!
CMHA Transformation: Now & Forward
 
In the beginning of 2020, I talked about how we want to transform our buildings and how we want to TRANSFORM our communities, by providing positive economic opportunities for our residents, and the community over all. The year began with a celebration of preservation in Evanston and the momentum continued throughout the year despite the detour we all faced with the pandemic. There's currently over $125 million in preservation work taking place at Evanston, Park Eden, Pinecrest and Sutter View. Dozens of job opportunities at livable wages were created because of that preservation work as well as more contract dollars being spent with MBE, WBE and Section 3 businesses. New partnerships were created with organizations that provide our residents with well needed services and goods like Covid testing opportunities on-site, masks, over 12,000 meals delivered and personal protection equipment. Our partnerships strengthened during the course of the year with the opening designation of the Envision Centers. We have referred over 2800 residents for services provided by our social service partners. Finally, we applied for and received the HUD designated ConnectHome award and we are in the process of closing the digital divide for over 150 residents by providing access to the internet so the families can stay connected to education, the community and mainstream information.
 
Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority was afforded a great opportunity to expand our footprint with the award of low-income housing tax credits to help fund Bennett Point, a new development, in the Pendleton Community. When completed, it will be the first new affordable housing in the city of Cincinnati we have built in over a decade.
 
Furthermore, more affordable housing solutions were generated with the HUD award of Mainstream Vouchers for persons with disabilities and additional HUD-VASH vouchers for Veterans struggling with homelessness. We also initiated incentive programs to encourage more property owner participation which led to more open doors for Hamilton County families searching for a home in the community of their choice and we strengthened our relationship with Strategies to End Homelessness to help additional families that are homeless in our community. Newly developed housing with supportive services for the homeless opened with the support of our HCV Program and we completed our very first virtual Landlord Appreciation event.
 
In addition, some out of the box actions were taken to ensure the residents, vendors, landlords and partners could still receive the services expected of Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. We hustled to get staff set up for telecommuting, created drop boxes to receive information and keep everyone as safe as possible. The use of digital platforms expanded so the trainings, briefings and meetings provided to clients could continue.
 
The transformational year is ending on an exciting note for Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority and the families we assist. HUD recently announced that CMHA won the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant which will be used to develop a plan to transform Stanley Rowe Towers & Row Houses, and Liberty Street Apartments. Our residents will be the driving force and will be heard every step of the way as this plan is being completed. Our residents will be the real winners!
 
 
Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority's future is being shaped because of our desire to be an asset to the community and the desire to provide our residents the best affordable product in the community. I am looking forward to further transforming the agency during 2021 by working with our current partners, our residents and the community over all.
 
Happy Holidays, 

Gregory D. Johnson, MS, EDEP, PHM
Chief Executive Officer
CommPartnerNCR   Collaborating to House the Homeless

Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority and National Church Residences connected on a new development for local families over 5 years ago. Just recently the doors of The Commons at South Cumminsville opened for individuals living with disabilities and struggling with homelessness. The 80-unit apartment community features a myriad of amenities including partially furnished units, a 24-hour front desk, a medical facility, a fitness center, a resource center with computers, security cameras and paid utilities to name a few. National Church Residences (NCR) is known for providing affordable senior housing in the country. Colleen Bain, the VP of Supportive Housing at NCR maintains, "We have about 22,000 units of affordable senior housing. We have a smaller but mighty portfolio of supportive housing for the homeless. We are really excited about this being our first permanent supportive housing community in Cincinnati."
Part of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority Mission is to develop partnerships that expand housing opportunities, to create neighborhood stability and to help promote self-sufficiency. The partnership with National Church Residences is an excellent example of how CMHA mission-driven work transforms lives. Just over four acres of vacant land that was used by some as an illegal dump site is now a one of a kind residence in a community that was looking to thrive. The Commons is helping change the atmosphere of the community physically and economically. Bain said, "We were very intentional about inviting residents of South Cumminsville to apply for housing as well as jobs. So we've hired people from the community to work here and we are processing people from the community to move in and become residents here." NCR also has a paid work training program called Right Track where the residents get classroom and hands-on experience to become maintenance and front desk personnel. Many of whom will be hired to work on-site. People who choose to move to The Commons at South Cumminsville will not only have a new, quality affordable home they will have on-site supportive services. Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health will have full-time staff on-site, medical personnel will provide services, and behavior plans that focus on housing retention and eviction prevention will be created for those who need it. Pernell Harris is the Senior Property Manager for The Commons and will oversee the day to day operations. He points out, "The city needs more facilities like this to help reduce the homeless population."

"Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority uses many tools to provide the community and families with access to services needed to prosper and have a better quality of life. The Project Based Voucher Program is one of those tools," stated Lisa Isham, CMHA Housing Choice Voucher Program Director. National Church Residences was approved to be a part of CMHA's Project Based Voucher (PBV) Program. Under the PBV Program, CMHA enters into an assistance contract with the owner for specified units and for a specified term. All units at The Commons are subsidized with PBVs and the residents will pay no more than 30% of their income. National Church Residences recognizes that partnerships are key to projects like this being successful. Colleen Bain said, "It would be hard to imagine doing a project of this scope without all the partnerships. CMHA has been a really important partner for us. We could not have done this project without the rental subsidy. We are so grateful to CMHA for this partnership. It's really an important resource and it's really the first project of this size and scope in Cincinnati for supportive housing so we're excited to be a part of that."
Colleen Bain


 AgencyspotlightAgency Spotlight:  Award Winner
Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority is excited to announce that it has won the highly competitive Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant for the development of a plan that will reimagine the West End, with a focus on the future of Stanley Rowe Towers, Stanley Rowe Row Houses and Liberty Street Apartments.

The $410,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant will bring together CMHA's vast network of residents and partners to co-develop a shared transformation plan that is transparent, innovative and focused on three task forces:  Affordable Housing, Empowering People and Neighborhood Assets. 

Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority along with its residents and partners are committed to improving the quality of life in the West End. This Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant will kick start the revitalization for CMHA families and partners in the West End with a potential impact that could resonate far beyond the borders of the community.

Reno Day Celebrations


Old & New Partnerships

Pandemic Response


Pinecrest OH bath
Millions in Renovations