LINCOLN SQUARE — Metropolis Council on Wednesday accepted a further $5.5 million towards the renovation of a former Lincoln Sq. motel into transitional housing for Chicagoans experiencing homelessness.
The Haven on Lincoln is changing the Diplomat Motel, 5230 N. Lincoln Ave., as a part of a $14 million renovation. Its 46 motel rooms might be transformed into 40 rooms tied to supportive companies, together with psychological well being and medical look after individuals experiencing homelessness who’ve unaddressed bodily and behavioral well being wants.
Metropolis officers introduced the pilot program final yr with the likelihood that it might be open on the finish of 2024, however these plans have been delayed due to contract negotiations between the contractor and town, Ald. Andre Vasquez (fortieth) advised Block Membership on Tuesday.
“There have been considerations about liabilities. So these contractors and the legal professionals have been all speaking to one another, and there did have to be some further funding that we truly labored in the direction of,” Vasquez mentioned.
Town’s finance committee mentioned setting apart $5.5 million from the Lincoln Avenue TIF to renovate The Haven at its Feb. 10 assembly. Town’s Division of Housing will leverage $8.42 million in Chicago Restoration Plan bond funds and a $103,660 grant from the Chicago Division of Public Well being to completely finance the development.
The total Metropolis Council accepted these plans Wednesday.
Town acquired the 5230 N. Lincoln Ave. property final yr for $2.9 million and held a groundbreaking ceremony in September. The funds accepted Wednesday will go towards renovation of the property into The Haven, Vasquez mentioned.
“We’ve been advised it’ll open in 2025, however we’re going to maintain holding them accountable,” he mentioned. “As with plenty of issues we’ve seen, we’ve got to proceed pushing, proper, to ensure it’s accomplished.”
The Haven will provide trauma-informed and culturally delicate care through companies supplied by Volunteers of America Illinois. The Chicago-based nonprofit works with kids in foster care and supplies inexpensive housing for older individuals, veterans and folks experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
The trouble to transform the motel into “bridge housing” builds on the earlier success of an early COVID-19 period program to gradual the unfold of the virus by addressing homelessness, Vasquez beforehand mentioned.
As much as 40 individuals would stay at The Haven at one time, and the everyday period of a keep would vary between three and 6 months, in accordance with Nancy Hughes Moyer, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Illinois.
The Haven on Lincoln will present every particular person with a person room, transportation assist and particular person and group remedy alternatives, in accordance with metropolis plans.
Caseworkers, restoration specialists and scientific therapists might be accessible to supply psychological and psychiatric care, mentioned Dr. Jenny Hua, the Chicago Division Of Public Well being’s medical director of behavioral well being.
Help and safety employees might be on website 24 hours. A safety digital camera system will present real-time monitoring of entryways, hallways and doorways, Moyer mentioned.
Moreover, all employees will obtain trauma-informed and deescalation coaching earlier than they begin working with The Haven’s residents, Moyer mentioned. Nearly all of referrals to The Haven might be from Swedish Hospital’s emergency room, the Lincoln (twentieth) Police District and different service suppliers within the space, she mentioned.
Volunteers of America Illinois already has supportive housing packages in West Humboldt Park and Englewood. Its suburban Melrose Park program, Hope Corridor, helps a inhabitants just like the one The Haven will serve, Moyer mentioned.
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