NOVEMBER 2021 | News You Can Use
Dear FWHS Community,

As we look toward a beautiful holiday season, the Fort Worth Housing Solutions family is grateful for all that has happened this year to expand affordable housing opportunities across our city.
 
Properties such as The Holston in the Alliance Corridor (featured below) are providing residents a beautiful place to live with access to highly desirable schools and job centers.
 
Casa de Esperanza, our collaborative, 119-unit permanent supportive housing community, celebrates one year this month of successfully providing homes with supportive services to the chronically homeless.
 
Construction preparations are under way at Cowan Place Senior Living in Stop Six, and we’re looking forward to finalizing designs for Hughes House, our second housing development in the Choice Neighborhood Initiative.
 
Our city thrives when children and adults have access to quality education and jobs that pay livable wages. But finding safe, affordable housing is an important first step.
 
Thank you for everything you do to make Fort Worth the kind of city where people can thrive. We wish you and your families a warm and happy Thanksgiving!

Mary-Margaret Lemons
President
Kendrick Ladd Building New Life in The Holston
An Army veteran, Kendrick Ladd found himself living out of cars and celebrating holidays alone in the park after some tough years and financial missteps. Needing a fresh start, he learned about HUD's Veterans Administration-Supportive Housing, or VASH, program. Now, Ladd has a beautiful, one-bedroom apartment in The Holston and on his way to self-sufficiency.

Learn more about Ladd's journey from homelessness to building a new life with the help of Fort Worth Housing Solutions in this Q&A. His story was recently highlighted by the Fort Worth Report in a piece about FWHS efforts to de-concentrate poverty and develop quality, affordable housing across Fort Worth.
Lanesha Davis Named Vice President of Housing Operations and Client Services
Fort Worth Housing Solutions has promoted Lanesha Davis, an eight-year agency veteran who previously led all special programs, to Vice President of Housing Operations and Client Services. Davis reports to Deputy Director Sonya A. Barnette, who also is Senior Vice President for Housing and Client Services.

Davis joined FWHS in 2013, and most recently served as Special Programs Director/504 Coordinator. In her new role she leads the operations of all housing programs – including the Housing Choice Voucher and Rental Assistance Demonstration programs – and grant administration for all programs serving homeless residents and well as oversee Fair Housing and 504/ADA compliance for the agency as a whole.

Read more here.
Casa de Esperanza Celebrates First Anniversary
This month residents are celebrating the one-year anniversary of Casa de Esperanza, the largest permanent supportive housing effort for the chronically homeless in Fort Worth.

The City of Fort Worth provided $9.25 million in 2020 CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funding to make the community possible. FWHS and development partner Ojala Holdings, LLC, renovated an extended-stay hotel into a 119-unit, permanent supportive community.

Partners including PNS, MHMR of Tarrant County, Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, Tarrant Area Food Bank, JPS Health Network and many others provide on-site “wrap-around” services that contribute to the community's success. About 94 percent of residents who leased apartments in 2020 have remained at Casa to date. Learn more here.

Lauren King, TCHC executive director, says our community is making great strides in reducing homelessness in a Fort Worth Business Press guest column here. (Premium content access may require a subscription.)
Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Update
Work continues throughout the Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative:


  • Construction has begun on Cowan Place Senior Living, with dirt being moved and land being cleared by Block Companies. Also, design work for Hughes House is in the final stages with construction set to begin in 2022.

  • General Contractor BLOCK Companies held a Nov. 17 job fair at Stallion Pointe Apartments in far south Fort Worth. To learn more about CNI job opportunities, email FWHS Workforce Coordinator Jerome Johnson at JJohnson@fwhs.org.

  • Lastly, the next Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Community Update will take place in early 2022. Details to come.

Learn more at StopSixCNI.org.
Emergency Rental Assistance Distribution Reaches $11 million
As of this week, FWHS has distributed $11 million in federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds through a partnership with the City of Fort Worth. FHWS continues to process applications and is working to determine whether additional funds will be available to continue the program.

The funds are available to tenants who have fallen behind on rent or utilities due to income loss related to COVID-19. For example, applicants may have had a job loss, reduced work hours or similar financial hardship due to COVID-19.

The fastest way to get help is to apply online. Learn more about who can apply, what documents are needed and frequently asked questions by visiting the city’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program webpage.

Tenants may open an application, or landlords may open an application on behalf of a tenant, at www.fwhs.org/erap/. Email FWHS at ERAP@fwhs.org with questions.
You received this email because you are an appreciated client, stakeholder or supporter
of Fort Worth Housing Solutions.

Questions or suggestions?
Email Kristin Sullivan at ksullivan@fwhs.org.

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