Facts About Plans for Melissa's House
What is Melissa’s House? The Melissa’s House Foundation proposes developing permanent supportive housing for adults facing struggles with mental illness, where they will be offered a comforting, safe environment in which they can regain hope as they reconnect with family, access high‐quality treatment, and begin on a path toward recovery.
The Foundation hopes to rezone a 2.3 acre wooded lot with a ravine running through it on Beecher Crossing North in Gahanna. The site is located just east of Hamilton Road and south of Morse Road. Melissa’s House will be a 10‐unit one‐bedroom apartment building oriented to views of the striking outdoor surroundings. In addition, the building includes generous common space for residents to socialize and connect with each other and their families.
Nate and Elaine Goldberg’s daughter Melissa suffered from mental illness from her pre‐teen years until her death in 2006, when she was only 36 years old. Few words can describe the terrible anguish her family felt. After grieving very deeply, they realized the best use of their energy was to put it towards something positive. They wondered how they could turn their struggles into something that could help others.
Melissa’s family started to envision a more ideal environment for those with a similar situation as Melissa. It would be warm and inviting with the touches of home; built on a foundation of support and treatment designed to encourage independence; while encouraging family connection, thus rebuilding lives and allowing recovery on a variety of levels. The family hopes to honor Melissa's memory by offering support to others who need their help so badly.
Who is Involved in the Project? The Melissa’s House Foundation has teamed with Pizzuti to develop the site and Community Housing Network to manage the development once built.
Formed in 1976, Pizzuti is an innovative real estate services company based in Columbus that is one of the most highly respected businesses in the industry. Pizzuti has developed over 40 million square feet of mixed‐use, residential, office, retail and industrial projects for both public and private entities, including Miranova.
Community Housing Network (CHN) is a nonprofit company that develops, owns, and manages supportive housing. CHN has been providing specialized property management services to people with disabilities in the Columbus community since 1987. To date, CHN has developed and owns over 1,100 apartments, which are widely scattered throughout Franklin County in 28 zip codes and seven suburban communities in addition to Columbus. CHN works in partnership with community‐based supportive service agencies to link residents to the services they need.
What is supportive housing? Supportive housing is quality, affordable, permanent housing linked to social, health and employment services. Residents hold their own leases and pay their own rents. The Franklin County ADAMH board funds case management and behavioral health care support services to deliver treatment, transportation, and employment to residents. These supportive services enable residents to find work, maintain their recovery, and give back to the community.
Is this a shelter or group transitional home? No. The apartments will not be a group home, halfway house, treatment program, or a shelter. They offer permanent housing linked to a safety net of support and employment services that enable disabled persons to live independently.
Will the building have supervision? Yes. In addition to having monitored security, a staff worker will be on‐site every day to lead social activities, including group meals. The staff member will also be trained to monitor residents’ well-being. The Foundation will also engage a service provider to ensure residents have case managers. Finally, CHN employs staff to coordinate interaction among the residents, support workers, the neighborhood, and the community to assist residents in remaining stable and maintaining their housing.
How will the building be managed? CHN has a 20‐year track record managing supportive apartments for people with special needs. As a nonprofit specifically committed to responsible and comprehensive property management, CHN’s oversight of its apartments is far greater than most property management organizations.
Will this housing change the safety of my neighborhood? CHN carefully screens and selects residents who can benefit from the supportive services and live successfully in the community. Like all citizens, residents living in the building will have the same rights and responsibilities established by Fair Housing and Landlord‐Tenant Laws. Residents must be “good neighbors” and are subject to eviction for behavior that violates the terms of their leases. Residents must pay rent, respect their neighbors and maintain their residences just like other multi‐family residents.
Why was this location chosen for supportive housing? The site is in a safe, stable neighborhood but also close to essential community facilities. Commercial businesses, including a major grocery store, convenience stores, pharmacies, restaurants and retail shopping are located within less than a mile. The site itself will have walking paths and a gazebo for residents to enjoy, as well as an indoor exercise room. The Gahanna YMCA is less than a half‐mile walk from the site and the Gahanna Public Library is located within two miles. Finally, bus stops are located less than a mile away on Morse Road with cross‐town and express routes available. In addition, residents may take the bus to Easton Town Center, located within three miles of the site.
Because of Melissa’s House, adults with mental illness will build hope through high‐quality treatment in a comforting environment where they will know that they are safe and allowed to be themselves as they journey toward recovery.
For more information about this supportive housing, please contact:
Samantha Shuler, Director of Real Estate Development
Community Housing Network, Inc.
(614)487-6756
Nate and Elaine Goldberg, Founders
Melissa’s House Foundation
melissashouseorg@gmail.com
Follow Up Questions and Answers
Resident Questions
Who will be living at the site? Individuals disabled by mental illness who are able to comply with the lease and building rules with minimum supports will be eligible for Melissa's House. A typical resident will have the daily living skills to manage personal hygiene; cook, clean and care for an apartment; understand and manage finances, including signing a lease and paying rent; and be a good neighbor. This commitment is included in Part III.A. of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
How can you ensure residents will be highly functioning? CHN will work with third-party, trained clinical staff to screen in residents who are appropriate for this type of housing. For over 20 years, CHN has been part of the mental health system and understands how to appropriately screen residents into available housing. Applicants must have a clinical evaluation completed by a trained professional at an accredited mental health center that CHN will review with the trained professional beofre placing them in housing. Thus, in addition to doing its own criminal and credit background checks, CHN will review an independent clinical evaluation to assure Melissa's House residents can succeed. This commitment is included in Part III.A. of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Will people with drug and/or alcohol issues be living at the site? The residence will be targeted to individuals disabled by mental illness. People with alcohol and drug addiction histories will be offered more appropriate housing. This commitment is included in Part III.A. of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Will people with criminal backgrounds be living at the site? CHN will conduct criminal background checks on applicants and deny residency to anyone who has been convicted of a felony, including violent crimes and property crimes. In addition, CHN will deny residency to any applicant who has been classified by a court as a sexually oriented offender, a habitual sex offender or a sexual predator, or any member who has been convicted of a child endangerment if that member agreed to be convicted of such a crime in lieu of being prosecuted for a crime that could have made that member be classified by a court as a sexually orented offender, a habitual sex offender, a sexual predator. This commitment is included as Part III.D. of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Will the HUD funds being used for the site prevent CHN from enforcing its commitments? CHN owns and operates similar housing models and has obtained approval from funders to set a preference for residents as described above, including from HUD. CHN operates many HUD funded sites and therefore has a long history working with HUD and understanding its rules. Based on our past success with HUD, we are confident we can enforce our screening commitments.
How many people will be living at the site? Over 98% of CHN's one-bedroom units are occupied by a single person. Occasionally a couple requests a one-bedroom unit and may request on at Melissa's House; however, CHN will attempt to direct those couples to other housing. This commitment is included as Part II.E. of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Transportation
How will residents without cars access area amenities? Many residents will walk to nearby amenities or to the bus stop near Hamilton and Morse Road. From the proposed site, walking down Beecher Crossing North to Beecher Crossing and then to Hamilton Road, Giant Eagle in the Vista Plaza Shopping Center and the Stone Ridge Plaza Shopping Center is 0.7 miles away. Continuing along the same route, the bus stop is 1 mile away.
In addition to walking and using the bus, residents will have case managers available for transporting them to necessary off-site needs. Finally, the on-site staff person available to the residents 4 hours/day 7 days/week can also transport residents to amenities in the area.
How can you stop residents from cutting through private property? CHN will regularly discuss with residents their obligation to respect their neighbors' private property and use public access routes. This commitment is included as Part III.G. of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Resident Activities and Support
What will the residents do at the site? Most residents will have daily off-site routines, including going to work, volunteering, or attending off-site programs. At home, residents will also benefit from on-site activities such as family-style meals provided by on-site staff. Residents can also take advantage of building amenities, including a computer center, a family room with a television, meeting rooms, an activity room, a family kitchen, and a fitness room.
What kind of support services will residents receive? Case managers employed by a local mental health center will provide residents a full range of clinical, advocacy and linking services to meet individual needs. Services include clinical services, such as outreach, assessment, treatment planning and coordination, clinical evaluation, and crisis intervention as well as access to mental health services, income benefits, and vocational services.
Residents will also receive on-site services from a staff member employed by CHN and available 4 hours/day, 7 days/week. This staff person will have an undergraduate degree and a social worker license. The staff person will be available to plan social activities, but will also be trained to monitor residents' well-being. In this way, the staff member ensures residents continue to comply with the lease and building rules and are good neighbors. If residents begin to have issues, the staff member will alert the case manager and CHN to avoid potential problems before they affect the community. The staff member will also report any issues neighbors raise about residents' behavior to CHN so the issues can be addressed. This commitment is included as Part III.C. of the Good Neighbor Agreement.
Funding Sources and Requirements
What are the funding sources to be used for this development? Two sources of funding will be provided for the development. CHN has applied to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for both development funds and operating funds. The funds supply both development funds and operating funds (rent) for at least 40-years. In addition, the Melissa's Housing Foundation will contribute funds to enhance both the building design and operations. Melissa's House Foundation was created solely to support the Melissa's House development and operations so that all funds raised will be dedicated to this purpose. The Foundation plans to raise $5M to contribute to the project.
What are funding restrictions for the development? If HUD funds are granted to the project, Melissa's House Foundation and CHN will have to commit to renting the site to residents disabled by mental illness and who have incomes at or below 50% of the median income in Franklin County. (Franklin County's current median income is $48,000 for a one-person household.
Ownership and Long-Term Commitment
Who will own the residence and be responsible for ensuring it functions positively with the community? In accordance with HUD regulations, CHN will create a separate non-profit company whose sole purpose will be to own and operate Melissa's House. Board members from both CHN and the Melissa's Housing Foundation will be appointed to the ownership entity, so that both organizations will be responsible for the property. Both companies are non-profit corporations and will enter into an agreement that assures the property is properly managed and has sufficient funds to operate as envisioned by the Melissa's House Foundation.
How can we be sure the commitments made today will remain over the life of the project? CHN and the Melissa's House Foundation would like to sign a Good Neighbor Agreement with the community that puts in writing our commitments as well as establishes a procedure by which any changes to the project must be approved by the community. As the Franklin County ADAMH housing agency, CHN has been developing supportive housing for special needs populations since 1987. As a non-profit, mission-driven organization, CHN commits itself to being a good neighbor. CHN has signed and abided by Good Neighbor Agreements in twelve different communities, including the City of Bexley. The agreements assure the community we will keep our promises over the long-term. In addition, the Melissa House Foundation will create an endowment dedicated to Melissa's House.
Other General Questions
Will my property values be negatively affected or my home owner's insurance increase? Over the 20 years CHN has owned and operated over 1,100 units scattered throughout Columbus and suburban communities, we have not experienced surrounding property values decreasing or insurance rates increasing due to our presence.
Does the ravine and retention pond present a threat to the potential Melissa's House residents? No. First, residents will be skilled enough to understand the dangers the ravine and pond present. In addition, CHN owns properties with similar topography and has not had any issues with residents endangering themselves.
