DCA & HMFA Break Ground on New 21 Unit Affordable Housing Complex in Newark
Complex Made Possible Through HMFA and DCA Financing


NEWARK - Along with local officials, Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Executive Director Marge Della Vecchia, today attended the official ground breaking ceremony for Ridgewood Avenue Supportive Housing Apartments, a 21 unit affordable housing complex located at 180-190 Ridgewood Avenue in Newark.

"Governor Corzine has continuously stressed his commitment to providing good, quality affordable housing for New Jersey residents and to assist those with special needs," said Acting Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Charles A. Richman. "This development helps accomplish both of those goals, as Ridgewood Avenue Support Housing will greatly assist the residents of Newark."

The Ridgewood Avenue Supportive Housing Development will be an attractive three-story, twenty-one one-bedroom building with safe, affordable housing that will give 21 homeless individuals the opportunity, stability and support needed to live a productive and stable life. Each apartment will be fully furnished, have new appliances, have a living room, a kitchen/eat in area, storage space, a separate bedroom and a full bathroom, and will cover an average of 550 square feet. Two apartments on the first floor will be fully handicap accessible and the rest will be designed to be handicap adaptable. The project will accommodate residents with both physical and mental disabilities so they can live with minimal assistance.

The HMFA provided $2,250,000 in funding for this development through the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund, and DCA provided State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) project based assistance for the units. These programs are designed to provide the financing and a portion of the rental assistance needed to develop the units and for the residents to live independently in. The project has the support of the Department of Human Services and has also received funding from the Essex County HOME fund, the Newark City HOME fund, HUD's McKinney-Vento fund, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

"This project will provide an opportunity for residents to live in quality housing that is well located and well constructed," said Marge Della Vecchia. "The design of the building will be an asset to the neighborhood and an opportunity for the residents to both live independently, obtain the services they need and have companionship in each other. We are proud to be a part of this project and we will be back to welcome the residents home!"

Project Live, the project developer, is a private, non-profit, community-based mental health services entity that provides a range of housing and social services to mental health consumers in Essex County. In addition to developing projects such as this, they operate supportive housing properties and have an excellent record of success in serving individuals in both Newark and throughout Essex County.

For more information on HMFA programs and mortgages, please call 1-800-NJHOUSE or 609-278-7400, or log on to www.nj-hmfa.com.


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