Sheakley Center

OCCH was pleased to invest $6.3 million into the development of The Sheakley Center for Youth, the adaptive reuse of an existing warehouse into 39 units of permanent supportive housing in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sheakley Center for Youth employs a Housing First model to target homeless transition aged youth aged 18-24 who are living on the streets or in emergency shelter. Many of these youth have emancipated from or aged out of the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems and are either single (unaccompanied) or have a very young child. The anticipated length of tenancy is 18 months, however no one will be evicted due to age. The goal is to transition the residents into more independent housing and life opportunities.

The Sheakley Center is designed to create a single site where youth can enter from the streets for immediate stabilization through street outreach and resource center services, safe and structured emergency shelter, and permanent housing. The building also houses Lighthouse Youth Services programming, services and administrative offices. Since 1969, Lighthouse Youth Services has developed a continuum of shelter, services and aftercare designed to provide skills to encourage responsibility and independence.

The building is intentionally designed to integrate supportive service offices on each floor in order to encourage interaction between caseworkers and residents. The first and part of the second floors of the building will contain Lighthouse’s outreach and emergency shelter. The remainder of the second floor through fourth floor will provide 39 efficiency and one bedroom units which are a mix of efficiency and one-bedroom floorplans.

Project Details
Units
39
Fund
OEF Equity Fund XXVI
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
Management Company
POAH Communities
Developer
Model Property Development, Inc., New Life Properties, Inc. / Lighthouse Youth Services