Slater Hall Provides Housing for the Homeless
Slater Hall, located in Cincinnati’s west end neighborhood, is open and ready to change lives. The previously vacant parcel of land now offers 62-unit permanent supportive housing units for formerly homeless people with histories of mental illness. FHLB Cincinnati supported the construction of the project through a $620,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant awarded to member Fifth Third Bank for the benefit of Tender Mercies.
Slater Hall units are equipped with a full kitchen, private bathrooms (both handicap accessible and traditional depending on needs), a living room area and bedroom. Residents also have access to a plethora of support services.
The building is named after Ed Slater, one of the three people who founded Tender Mercies nearly 40 years ago and pioneered the permanent supportive housing model in Cincinnati. Slater reflected on how Tender Mercies came to be with the help of its co-founders, Father Chris Hall and Randy LaFond.
“For us, it was impossible not to do something about the dire situation so many were facing. Chris, Randy and I started Tender Mercies with the simple goal of restoring people experiencing mental illness and homelessness to the security, dignity and community that everyone deserves,” said Slater.
Most affordable housing projects pull from multiple funding sources. FHLB Cincinnati’s AHP funds can be the final piece to get projects such as Slater Hall off the ground.
“The continued challenges that face the affordable housing landscape are well known, and the Bank prides itself on continuing to partner with other funders to ensure that we support as many quality projects as we can,” said Dawn Grace, Vice President of Housing & Community Investment at FHLB Cincinnati.
During the building’s ribbon cutting, Tender Mercies CEO Russell Winters shared how much the project means to residents.
“One resident astounded us when he stated that after living in shelters and dorms for 17 years, he was actually going to be able to take a bath in the tub for the first time in 20 years,” said Winters. “Their pride and joy is palpable, and they remind us that what goes on inside our projects is just as important as this amazing physical structure.”
At the time of writing, over 30 men and women already call Slater Hall home. Geoff, one such resident, was homeless mere months ago, living under various bridges in Cincinnati.
“I’ve been here close to two months now,” said Geoff. “I want to start working part-time soon. Doing what I need to do to make this last.”
