July 2, 2015 - Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry today helped dedicate a new home on the Vincent Village campus. The home, 2719 Bowser Avenue, was built in part with funding that the City of Fort Wayne receives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A local family that struggled with homelessness is now living in the home and paying rent based on their income.
“Thanks to a great partnership between the City and Vincent Village, another family has a place to call home,” said Mayor Henry. “By working together, we are providing opportunities for some of our most vulnerable residents and addressing homelessness one family at a time.”
“Without this partnership, building a brand new home would not have been possible,” said Denise Andorfer, executive director of Vincent Village. “The City works with us on many levels to address homelessness. When our partnership allows a hard-working family to move out of the Vincent House Transitional Shelter and into a home of their own, it is life-changing. We would also thank our generous donor of the original house, John Tippman Sr., because without his generosity, this address would still be a blighted and abandoned home.”
The new home was constructed by Ideal Builders and is being rented by Vincent Village clients, Peggy and Stephanie. Stephanie is the mother of two young boys and Peggy is their grandmother. The family started at Charis House, then moved to the Vincent Village Transitional Shelter. After paying off some bills and finding stable employment, they are ready to rent the new home.
The City of Fort Wayne provided $111,973 in Federal HUD funds. Because Vincent Village is a certified CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization), the agency qualified for the funding. The Indiana Housing Community Development Association (IHCDA) provided $36,200 in matching dollars.
Vincent Village works to alleviate homelessness by providing shelter, care, advocacy, affordable housing and supportive services for homeless families. The agency owns and rents 33 properties that provide affordable housing for families with incomes below 30 percent of the area median.
Both Vincent Village and the City of Fort Wayne are active participants in the Fort Wayne Area Planning Council on Homelessness. The Planning Council works to identify the needs, priorities and gaps in the services available for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Vincent Village’s case managers work with the City’s Ready to Rent clientele, who come from emergency shelters and move into permanent housing. By providing the key case management component, the residents have a higher likelihood of eventually being able to support themselves and their families without government assistance.