COLUMBUS, Ind. — Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana announces its selection to participate in the 17th Indiana Supportive Housing Institute, a four-month intensive technical assistance program designed to accelerate affordable and supportive housing development.
VOA Ohio & Indiana will collaborate with Herron Property Management, United Way of Bartholomew County, and First Presbyterian Church of Columbus to develop new, high-quality and affordable housing paired with critical support services for people experiencing homelessness in Bartholomew County. The VOA Ohio & Indiana team is one of five teams from across Indiana selected to participate in this program and will focus on finalizing a concept to develop housing specifically for single adults without dependents.
“We are honored to be selected for this program,” said John R. von Arx III, President & CEO of Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana. “This opportunity will significantly enhance our capacity to deliver much-needed affordable and supportive housing in our community. We look forward to leveraging the expertise and resources provided through this program to make a tangible impact.”
The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) co-lead the Indiana Supportive Housing Institute based on CSH’s national institute curriculum. Through intensive and interactive workshops, VOA of Ohio & Indiana will learn strategies for navigating the complex barriers to development and funding, such as restrictive zoning laws, high land and construction costs, regulatory hurdles, and delivering high-quality support services.
“IHCDA welcomes Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana to the 17th Supportive Housing Institute,” said Jake Sipe, executive director of IHCDA. “We are thrilled to be working alongside them in developing dynamic solutions to advance supportive housing in the state.”
Supportive housing is a data-driven model that increases supplies of affordable homes, creates jobs, stimulates the local economy, and enhances community safety. Stable housing also leads to better health outcomes and improves educational stability for children, families, and older adults.
Upon completing the Indiana Supportive Housing Institute, VOA Ohio & Indiana can apply for additional funding and the CSH Quality Supportive Housing Endorsement with the goal of breaking ground in 2026.
“Communities that invest in affordable and supportive housing offset resources that otherwise would go to pay for costly emergency systems and institutional care,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO at CSH. “By prioritizing affordable housing and well-funded services, communities address head-on the reasons people fall into homelessness in the first place.”
For more information about Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana and its programs that serve vulnerable communities, visit www.voaohin.org.
