NEW CASTLE City agency to turn vacant building into homes for homeless, mentally ill

By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A vacant downtown building will soon be transformed into apartments for homeless people who are mentally ill.
Human Services Center of New Castle announced its plans Wednesday to transform 20/24 E. North St. into 14 studio apartments.
"It addresses the issue of affordable housing and it addresses the issue of stability for people who don't have a lot of stability in their lives right now," said David Lynch, president of HSC's board of directors.
Lynch owns the building and is leasing it to HSC for the next 30 years for $1 per year. Lynch noted the building will remain on the tax rolls even though HSC is a nonprofit organization.
Also offering services, work
In addition to providing housing, HSC also plans to offer outpatient services to the residents to help them to remain permanently at the site.
Residents also will be given the opportunity to work at Westfield Farm Cooperative, a vocational rehabilitation program that is operated by HSC.
Building renovations will be done from November to February 2004 by Operation Outward Reach, a vocational training program for inmates at Mercer State Correctional Facility.
Roger Smith, HSC's director of community services, said residents should move in sometime in summer or fall 2004.
The estimated $395,000 building rehabilitation will be paid partly with a $112,000 Affordable Housing Grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and other grants. A $447,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will pay for the operational costs, including utilities, Smith said.
Smith said the three-story building will be unique in that it will be rehabilitated in accordance with guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council to ensure its operating costs are minimal.
A few details
A rooftop garden will provide green space in an urban setting and solar panels will provide natural sunlight even in basement apartments, he said. Solar power also will be used to provide hot water to the apartments, Smith added.
"All of these things will conserve energy and increase the quality of life for our residents," Smith said.
Residents must be homeless, mentally ill and have incomes below the federal poverty level. Smith said most only receive Social Security's Supplemental Security Income Benefit, which is $545 per month.
U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th, was on hand for the announcement and commended HSC for its work in going after competitive grants for the project.
cioffi@vindy.com