The Neighborhood Service Organization, known as
NSO, breaks ground today on a renovation of the historic Bell Building, located at 882 Oakman near
Focus:HOPE, that will provide housing for formerly homeless adults in transition, as well as NSO corporate offices and support services.
The $50 million renovation will create 155 one-bedroom apartments in the 255,000 sq. ft. structure, as well as a health clinic for residents, sundry shop, fitness center, walk-out roof gardens, library, chapel, and more. Services for residents will all be under the Bell Building's roof -- life skills training, addiction treatment, mental health counseling and case management. They found the building through Focus:HOPE's Debbie Fisher, and decided the location would help spur community redevelopment in the area.
"We serve a very large homeless population, and our philosophy is, the way you end homelessness, is you house them," says NSO President and CEO Sheilah P. Clay. "We wanted our project to be part of a revitalization effort, and really feel like we were going to help a community, but the number one goal was to end homelessness."
In addition to caring for the homeless, NSO also provides gambling treatment, addiction treatment, elder adult services, suicide prevention hotlines and youth anti-violence programming throughout Southeast Michigan. Those programs will be housed at the new headquarters in the Bell Building.
NSO has raised $40 of the $50 million needed to complete the project through equity financing, tax credits, loans and grants; and continues to seek funding. Current partners include MSHDA, the City of Detroit, Wayne County, The Kresge Foundation, the McGregor Fund, The National Trust Community Investment Corporation, Bank of America, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the Opportunity Resource Fund.
Source: Sheilah P. Clay, NSO President and CEO
Writer: Ashley C. Woods
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