Ability Housing

We’re Moving

abilitystaff — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:35:58 +0000

As of June 1st, we are moving to 76 S. Laura St., Suite 303, Jacksonville, Florida 32202. Otherwise known as the SunTrust building.

HUD Awards Continuum of Care Grant to Ability Housing

abilitystaff — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:46:39 +0000

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the award of nearly $201 million to support 731 new local homeless programs across the country including $354,000 to the Jacksonville Public Housing Authority and Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, Inc. to support the operation of quality, affordable housing for homeless households that include an adult with a disability.

Winning…Give to the Givers

abilitystaff — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:03:49 +0000

Ability Housing just got word that we are one of the five Give to the Givers contest winners! You can find the official announcement on page 16 of the March 2012 issue of The Buzz Magazine. The Give to the Givers contest winners will receive an advertising package valued at over $10,000 sponsored by The Buzz, Client Focused Media, First Coast News, Safeguard and First Coast Living.

THANK YOU to all the folks that voted for us, and asked your family and friends and neighbors and strangers to vote for us. We promise to utilize this advertising opportunity to the fullest.

Vote for 100 Homes Jacksonville in the JAX Boldest contest

abilitystaff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:52:57 +0000

Innovative. Creative. Bold. The JAX Region is full of innovative companies and inspired non-profits, creative projects and bold ideas. The JAX Boldest contest was developed to find and celebrate the innovative and creative items that are hiding throughout our region. As part of the Innovate Northeast Florida project, JAX Boldest will help find, share and showcase the bold people, projects, companies and non-profits in our region.

100 Homes Jacksonville – Inspired by the needs of homeless Veterans, Shawn Liu decided to be the change he hoped to see. Coordinating with Veteran Affiars, Homeless organizations, and other non-profits, Shawn organized 100 Homes Jax, an effort to search for and house 100 of the most medically needy & vulnerable homeless in the city. A huge success, the project found scores of homeless with life threatening conditions and is now providing stable housing and medical care even as you read this. From inspiration to real, tangible help.

Voting ends March 31, 2012, so vote now and tell everyone you know and maybe even some strangers to vote too!

100 Homes Jax: 1 down, 99 to go

abilitystaff — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:45:37 +0000

Oscar Soliman is the first success story for 100 Homes Jacksonville, a coalition of the Veterans Administration, social services groups and churches that’s trying to get jobs and a fresh start for the city’s 100 most medically vulnerable homeless people.

100 Homes Jax in Florida Times-Union

abilitystaff — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:19:10 +0000

The Florida Times-Union has an article about 100 Homes Jacksonville in today’s paper (front page, above the fold). We’re glad to see some media attention on the 100 Homes initiative. Click here to read the 100 Homes Jacksonville article (excerpt below with quote from Ability Housing’s Executive Director).

It’s tough on the street — especially if you have some years on you, some serious health problems, perhaps some mental-health issues or a history of drinking and drugs.

“It’s pretty basic,” said Shannon Nazworth, executive director of Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, one of the groups working on the project. “It’s life or death, actually.”

Ability Housing and River Region Partner to Administer HOPWA Grant

abilitystaff — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:59:00 +0000

River Region Human Services, Inc. (RRHS) is awarded a 2011 HOPWA competitive Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) grant in the amount of $1,353,743 to provide tenant based rental assistance and supportive services for 40 households headed by homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Jacksonville, FL metropolitan area. The Forging Useful Systems to Empower (FUSE) project will provide service coordination for clients through a RRHS partnership with Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, Inc., in providing housing assistance in coordination with rehabilitative services and health impact assessments. The project will develop a community model for an Integrated HIV/AIDS Housing Plan for Northeast Florida by coordination of HOPWA, Ryan White, and other sources of funding for housing and services for persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Click to view the RRHS Press Release.

For more information contact:

Dr. Paul Yarish, RRHS Chief Information Officer
2055 Reyko Road Suite 101, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: 904-899-6380 Email: pyarish@rrhs.org

100 Homes Jacksonville

abilitystaff — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:26:00 +0000

Ability Housing is a participating partner in 100 Homes Jacksonville, a local initiative to house 100 of the city’s most vulnerable homeless citizens. This action is a project of 100,000 Homes Campaign, a national initiative to house the nation’s most chronically homeless and vulnerable citizens by 2013.

Jacksonville has joined the effort through a commitment to house 100 of the First Coast’s homeless citizens. 100 Homes Jacksonville is a collaborative effort between concerned citizens, non-profit organizations, community businesses, and government entities to house the most vulnerable of the homeless population.

This solution not only saves the lives of 100 vulnerable at-risk citizens, it also saves the public millions of dollars in resources every year.

Come join us at the 100 Homes Jax Community Conversation on Friday, November 18th from 1 – 3 p.m. at the AT&T Auditorium ( 301 W. Bay St., Jacksonville, FL 32202). Be a part of the solution!

For more information, visit the 100 Homes Jax website or the 100 Homes Jax Facebook page.

Welcome, Beth!

abilitystaff — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:08:04 +0000

Ability Housing has hired a new asset manager, Beth Hohl Asbury. Beth has over 25 years of experience in community development. She is a former employee of the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority, working in Low Income Housing Tax Credit allocation, HOME program creation, and HOME loan underwriting, closing, and construction oversight. She also has extensive experience in nonprofit real estate development and management. She was the asset manager of a portfolio of almost 500 units of affordable housing; and was responsible for the development of almost 400 units of affordable housing totaling over $35 million in project costs.

DCF Awards $365,175 to Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, Inc.

abilitystaff — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:07:51 +0000

The article below was submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff on Monday, May 2, 2011.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has awarded Ability Housing of Northeast Florida $365,175 to support the local nonprofit’s mission to provide quality, affordable housing for adults with a disability and others at risk of homelessness. The grant is just one of six Homeless Housing Assistance Grants awarded statewide and will support Ability Housing’s efforts to rehabilitate 34 apartments into permanent housing for homeless families.

“People have a preconceived notion of who the homeless are. But, in reality, they’re our neighbors. Families with children are the fastest growing homeless population in our community. Something has to be done; the lasting impacts on those children and our community will be tremendous,” stated Ability Housing executive director, Shannon Nazworth. “The Department of Children and Families’ support will be leveraged with other resources to make a major impact on our community and help people truly in need.” Last year’s report on the homeless populations in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and Baker Counties identified 4,105 homeless persons in Duval County on the day of the census. This represents an increase of over 19% from the previous year’s homeless census.

“We recognize that our economy is still struggling, and that many people are feeling the pain of coping with economic challenges,” said Nancy Dreicer, Northeast Region Director of the Department of Children and Families. “Grants like this help keep families together, and that’s why we’re proud to support Ability Housing’s efforts to help prevent homelessness.”

Using a combination of several government programs and private equity investments, Ability Housing is transforming Mayfair Village Apartments from a once neglected apartment community into a neighborhood asset while providing rents affordable to families in need.

The renovation was begun in October and is nearly 70% complete. “I’ve lived in Mayfair Village since 1980 and I’ve noticed a lot of great changes within this community since Ability Housing has taken over. My new apartment is gorgeous. I love the color inside as well as outside. I’m so excited to have brand new appliances, cabinets, counter tops and floors. And the bathroom is just beautiful,” said a Mayfair resident.

Ability Housing is the only nonprofit in our community with a mission focus of developing and operating quality, affordable, rental housing that provides a permanent solution to the homeless issue plaguing our community; provides housing affordable to the community’s most vulnerable households; and revitalizes neighborhoods affected by detrimental rental properties.

Along with its multi-family projects, Ability Housing operates CASA, an award-winning project providing quality housing to adults with cognitive disabilities. The project consists of 29 single-family homes scattered throughout Jacksonville. Each is rented affordably to adults with disabilities, enabling them to live independently. “We like the neighborhood and enjoy living in this area of Jacksonville. It is convenient to bus transportation, to my work and grocery shopping. I have learned how to pay bills, take care of the yard and share in household chores. I feel that I am becoming more independent by living here. Thank you,” stated one of the CASA residents.

“Seeing the properties transformed is wonderful. But knowing the impact we’re having on the lives of the families that we serve, that’s why we all work so hard,” explained Nazworth. To learn more about Ability Housing, visit their website at www.abilityhousing.org or follow the progress of the Mayfair Village renovation at www.facebook.com/AbilityHousing.

http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/community-spirit/dcf-awards-365175-ability-housing-northeast-florida-inc/53217