"The pathway to housing should be fair and equitable for everyone, and access to affordable housing is the infrastructure people in our communities need to elevate families into the working class and the middle class. It is the foundation that helps people support their families and contribute to their economies." Raphael Warnock
This issue will focus on the priority area of Homelessness and Affordable Housing.
The American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March 2021, provided $1.9 trillion in economic relief to individuals, businesses, and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This included funding for homelessness prevention and assistance programs, as well as support for affordable housing initiatives. Of the $388M awarded to Louisville Metro Government, the Mayor and Metro Council approved an allocation of $40M to the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund (LAHTF). They in turn, worked with subgrantees to establish seven projects throughout the city. At a press conference in 2022, LAHTF Executive Director, Christie McCravy gave a summary of each project:
*Volunteers of America/Beargrass Development: $947,968 to build the 80-unit Bland Street Apartments, an affordable housing project that will include 20 units designated for permanent supportive housing. VOA-Monarch Station
*The Housing Partnership, Inc.: $4.75M to convert a vacant warehouse at 1405 W. Broadway, into a mixed-use development providing 111 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom apartments for seniors. The Gateway on Broadway Senior Apartments
*LDG Development, LLC: $4M to build The Eclipse, a 280-unit apartment community serving working class families in the Russell neighborhood of West Louisville, including former Beecher Terrace residents. The Eclipse
*Louisville Metro Housing Authority: $11.75M to build the 60-unit, three-story Iroquois Senior Living Community.
*New Life Directions Ministries, Inc.: $4.6M to build and operate 20 permanent supportive housing units for homeless single mothers and their children.
*REBOUND, Inc.: $5.2M to build PortShaw, a 38-unit affordable housing development on a vacant parcel in the Shawnee neighborhood.
*Wellspring: $8.2M to purchase and rehab existing multi-family properties, and provide 50 new units of affordable housing, along with supportive services. Wellspring Neighborhood House
Below are two of these projects that just broke ground in July 2024.
Iroquois Senior Living Community
"Housing is absolutely essential to human flourishing. Without stable shelter, it all falls apart."
Matthew Desmond
Louisville Metro Housing Authority was awarded ARP funding to begin the first phase of housing redevelopment on the former Iroquois Homes site. This first phase of new housing will feature 60 new apartments in a 3-story elevator building exclusively for persons age 55+. LMHA anticipates that the new Iroquois Homes Senior Living Community will be ready for occupancy in the summer of 2025. Please check their website, below, often for updates, including how to get on the site’s future waiting list. Iroquois Senior Living Community
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Portshaw Family Apartments
Portshaw Family Apartments are redeveloping a vacant parcel in the Shawnee neighborhood in the 3800 block of W. Market. These units will produce 38 affordable housing units in a much needed area of town.
Tenants of the Portshaw Apartments will have access to free resources from the Louisville Urban League, wraparound services to ensure renters are successful, including tutoring and counseling opportunities, and health services for all residents. Portshaw Apartments
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ARP Louisville Affordable Housing Data Dashboard
One of the strong principles of LMG is maintaining transparency with its ARP projects and funding allocations.
Because of this, there has been a data dashboard created to show the public the projects that are part of Permanent Supportive Housing and Affordable Housing.
Here you will find funding amounts, locations, descriptions, and photos of each of the projects. The dashboard is routinely updated with new and current information.
Follow this link to learn more: ARP Affordable Housing
“When our economy is truly healthy, and everyone rises with the tide of prosperity, then issues such as the lack of affordable housing, homelessness, and hunger are greatly diminished.” David Ige
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