CASE FOR SUPPORT
October 2023
Campaign for Amethyst Recovery Housing for Women and Children
Building Hope
Campaign for Amethyst Recovery Housing for Women and Children
For over 40 years, the Amethyst Program has been providing evidence-based, lifesaving, gender-speci c behavioral healthcare treatment for women struggling with addiction, mental health issues and trauma. At the same time, our programs provide educational support, prevention and related services for their children. A key component of the Amethyst program is providing supportive recovery housing for single women and for women with children. Having stable housing is a critical need for women and for families as they work toward long term recovery and economic independence.
This recovery housing is provided for up to two years. one of only a handful of women’s treatment programs in the nation where children up to age 18 can live with their mothers while the mother is in treatment. Amethyst provides a unique depth and breadth of services that not only leads to long term recovery for women, but it also addresses their children’s trauma and current behavioral health treatment needs. Prevention and educational support round out services for children and put these kids on the best possible path for a successful future of their own.
Why do we go to these lengths? Because for nearly 40 years, it has been working to heal families and put them on a trajectory of recovery and success. Yes, it is both expensive and challenging to do, but to us, the alternative of leaving mothers and children to struggle to put a roof over their heads and try to cobble together services on their own is unthinkable.
Housing will be increasing from 22 to 52 apartments for our women and children. This is an increase of 236%
I absolutely hated myself when I came into this program. But now I'm finally loving myself.
-Amethyst client
Amethyst is one of a handful of women's treatment programs in the entire nation where children up to age 18 can live with their mothers while she's in treatment.
The Current Situation
Over the past ve years, we have seen a steady decline in available housing for the families and women we serve. Landlords are ipping existing a ordable housing units to take advantage of higher market rates, which leaves these vulnerable families without a place to call home.
Central Ohio is experiencing an unprecedented a ordable housing shortage that is a ecting the lives of countless families in our community. The a ordable housing crisis has been steadily worsening in recent years, and Alvis has not been immune to the impact. Safe and stable housing that supports recovery is a critical component in helping women and children to address trauma, rebuild relationships, and secure nancial stability. Housing is a crucial area of philanthropic need.
In 2017, we leased a total of 112 apartments. Each year since, we have lost apartments. In late 2022, we were informed that we would lose all of the remaining units in 2023, e ectively ending our family treatment programs and giving our families nowhere to turn.
The impact of this crisis on our community cannot be overstated. As one of our sta shared, "It is really hard for us to know that our kids won't have a roof over their heads. And where are they going to go?" Having a place to live is essential for the program to function.
An Interim Solution
Developers came together to guide us in averting a critical loss of housing. As the March 2023 eviction deadline was looming, Alvis advocates negotiated on our behalf to extend our current lease so children would not be forced to move during the school year. They were successful and our families stayed in their apartments until July 2023. This came at a cost: A 25% increase in rent as well as a loss in amenities (laundry facilities were removed and the playground was demolished).
These same developers linked us to Mount Carmel, who thankfully agreed to rent 36 apartments to us for 24 months, beginning in July 2023. This also comes at a higher cost – our previously budgeted rent was $700 per apartment, per month. The new rent is $300 more per apartment, resulting in an additional $260,000 expense that was not in the agency’s already lean budget. But when the alternative is putting families out on the street, we are nding a way to take on the additional expense.
Source: Ohio
Department of Health
In 2020, there were 5,017 unintentional drug overdose deaths in the state of Ohio - the highest on record.
The Permanent Solution
Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon. We have partnered with Connect Housing Blocks, a company that specializes in modular, a ordable housing apartments, to create a sustainable, long-term solution to the a ordable housing crisis facing families in our community.
Their innovative construction technology will produce a ordable housing units at a much faster pace than traditional construction methods. This means that we can provide families with a safe and a ordable place to live, much more quickly than before. Alvis will be free from the fear of our families losing their homes when landlords dissolve leases. This process will provide a permanent building for the women and children in our recovery housing. Finally, there is a permanent housing solution that is safe and stable, where the women can focus on their recovery and getting well and their children can get the supportive services they need, too. They will be able to heal and move forward together.
This permanent solution will also require a nancial investment. We are now in the process of raising funds to ensure that we can bring this project to fruition. With your help, we can create a campus environment where Amethyst, an Alvis recovery program; the Alvis Family and Children’s Program; and Alvis’ Recovery Housing can be in one location. Connect Housing is spearheading and applying for Magnet Funds and tax credits, while Alvis is raising critical philanthropic dollars. Tax credits and Magnet Funds are used in the project as secure funding sources for the equity portion of the nancing needed to move the project forward. The Magnet Funds are awarded through a government program. The tax credits are awarded through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit process. These tax credits are then sold to generate funds for the project.
After our clients have graduated from our Amethyst program and are ready to enter the workforce, there will be opportunities for them to join the Connect Housing Blocks team.
About 1 in 8 children aged 17 or younger lived in households with at least one parent who had a past year substance use disorder.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Workforce Development
After our clients have graduated from our Amethyst program and are ready to enter the workforce, there will be opportunities for individuals in the Amethyst/Alvis program to join the Connect Housing Blocks (CHB) team. CHB has instituted what is called the "in nity training model". Through the “in nity training model” CHB is providing an unmatched path forward for individuals to improve their skills and earning potential. The “in nity training model” is an innovative structure that uptrains the CHB team and provides a pathway to increased bene ts and wages. Not only is the “in nity training model” unique in its video/hands-on approach to eliminate traditional training barriers, but it also provides a mechanism for team members to jump the state nancial assistance “bene ts cli .”
Sustainable Expansion and Growth of Services to Clients
In July of 2022, we were on a path to lose our remaining 22 apartments, and, without a solution in sight, we were forced to consider that the program could close.
Fast forward to now, we are grateful to have formed partnerships and created a solution that we will be majority owners, streamline programs, create a campus environment, integrate workforce development and more than double our capacity!
We invite you to be a part of this important mission by contributing today. With your support, we can ensure that families in our community space have a safe, supportive and a ordable place to call home.
Project Budget
Unbudgeted 25% rent increase MarchAugust 2023 at Richmond aparments $19,800.00 Unbudgeted 30% rent increase for 24-month lease at Mt. Carmel apartments for interim housing $259,200.00 Fundraising gap for new apartment building $1,000,000.00 Renovation costs for Amethyst / Family & Children's Progam o ces at Connect Housing Blocks $1,400,000.00 $19,600,000.00 Total cost for permanent five-story apartment building on new campus *Tax credits and magnet funds will cover majority cost leaving a $1M gap to raise $350,000.00 Annual rent for Amethyst administrative and program o ces on Mound Street Moving out March 2024 to new o ces at Connect Housing Blocks. New rent will be 40% less per year, while serving more families. $30,000.00 Moving fees to interim Mt. Carmel housing *22 Moves $50,000.00 Moving fees to new campus housing *36 Moves
Furnishings for new administrative and program o ces, and 52 apartments for clients $1,100,000.00 *Estimation
Philanthropic Goal
$4,209,000.00
Denise M. Robinson President & CEO denise.robinson@alvis180.org
Tracy Kirby Vice President of Advancement tracy.kirby@alvis180.org
Katie Enciso Director of Advancement katie.enciso@alvis180.org
Nick Bankston Director of Community Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives nick.bankston@alvis180.org www.alvis180.org