Affrdable Housing Project Seeks Letter of Support from Locust Point Civic Association
A proposal to add nine affordable housing studio apartments to the second and third story of the Immigrant House at Locust Point Community Church at 1308 Beason St. is seeking a letter of support from the Locust Point Civic Association (LPCA). Locust Point Community Church is partnering with Cornerstone Community Housing (CCH) and Earl’s Place on the project.
LPCA will be meeting tonight at the Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School cafeteria to discuss the project and vote on whether to write a letter of support. The proposal has been debated in recent days on social media groups and discussed around the community, and both the LPCA and Locust Point Community Church encourage neighbors to be a part of the discussion tonight. The meeting is open to the community and starts at 730 pm.
The apartments will be for graduates of Earl’s Place Transitional Housing Program. Tenants, who are previously homeless men, will pay 30 percent of their gross income as rent.
From the statement of need by CCH:
Most of the men who come to Earl’s Place do so after completing a substance abuse treatment program. Prior to seeking treatment, their homeless experiences often include sporadic stays in shelters, nights spent outside or in abandon buildings, and limited stays with family or friends. They may or may not have met the definition of chronically homeless prior to substance use treatment. However, once they have been in treatment more than 90 days, they are no longer considered chronically homeless and are not edible for many of the affordable housing options or supportive housing programs available to Housing First participants.
The second and third floors are described as “in severe disrepair.” The first floor would remain the Baltimore Immigration Museum and the pastor’s office.
The building was constructed in 1904 and served as temporary housing for newly-arrived European immigrants.
The project will include nine apartments of various sizes from 219 to 511 sq. ft. Each unit will have a kitchen, bathroom, and living/sleeping space. Two units will be reserved for individuals with very low income who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The other seven apartments will be for individuals who are employed and earn a minimum annual income of $31,200.
The maintenance staff of Locust Point Community Church and outside contractors will maintain he facility as needed. CCH staff will meet with the tenants on a “regular basis to help ensure continued success.”
SouthBMore.com will provide a follow up article following tonight’s meeting.
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
