We cut the ribbon on new housing!
On the morning of May 9, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul pulled out the big golden scissors for its ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the near completion of its newest transitional housing facility on the nonprofit's main campus just south of downtown Phoenix. Over 200 community members attended the ceremony.
Standing at an impressive 50,000 square-feet, the new building will house three programs:
- De Paul Manor: a transitional housing facility, featuring 100 beds for unhoused seniors and adults living with disabilities. Formerly known as “Ozanam Manor II,” De Paul Manor is modeled after Ozanam Manor, which currently provides 60 beds on SVdP’s main campus and boasts a high success rate with 98% of graduated residents remaining housed and not returning to homelessness services one year after moving out.
- Marion and Bob Auray Companion Animal Clinic: SVdP's first standing animal clinic, which will partner with Midwestern University Animal Health Institute to provide much-needed pet services for those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness through SVdP's Companion Animal Program.
- Workforce Development Program: a training center and office space that will support SVdP transitional housing residents as they work towards stable employment.
With a pleasant breeze blowing, Shannon Clancy, SVdP's Rob and Melani Walton's Endowed CEO, welcomed attendees and invited them to imagine the vulnerable community members the building and its programs will serve.
"Imagine yourself walking through here and arriving for the first time, still scared but to a place that's new, to a bed all your own, to three meals a day and a community of building relationships, making a plan, and finding a few friends along the way," Clancy said. "And one day, coming out to sit in the shade in this peaceful courtyard and realizing that for the first time in a very long time, you feel hopeful and worthy and loved. And that's what all of you are making possible here at St. Vincent de Paul. That's what we celebrate today. We celebrate hope and a future where people can find the healing and love and eventually the keys to their very own new home."
The $20-million building is made possible by funding from City of Phoenix, Maricopa County and the State of Arizona, as well as private donations. This important day for such an important shared project brought those partners together to celebrate with many dignitaries from the State, Maricopa County and City of Phoenix in attendance, including Arizona State Governor Katie Hobbs.
"This has been a true team effort, and I am so proud that the State was able to play such a role in making it happen," said Hobbs in her address to the crowd. "But none of this would have been possible without our partners at the local level. It's my thanks also to the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County for your contributions. Today is a shining example of what's possible when those in leadership decide to take the affordable housing crisis seriously."
The first transitional housing facility opened by SVdP, Ozanam Manor, currently operates in the Diane and Bruce Halle Center for Hope and Healing — a sister building just in front of the new construction. Also in the building was SVdP's former Resource Center, which used to offer walk-up services but is currently being remodeled for workforce housing as SVdP looks to add another 71 beds to its campus.
In total SVdP's main campus will soon offer 231 beds.
“This is our moment to do our part to help some of our most vulnerable neighbors during a critical time by expanding on a model of transitional housing with proven success,” Clancy said. “Our unhoused seniors and neighbors living with disabilities deserve greater access to a housing program as dignified and loving as Ozanam Manor — a place to help them find a home, and a support system with wraparound care that ensures their long-term housing success.”
Ryan Companies US, Inc. served as the general contractor for the project, a continuation of their partnership with SVdP after serving as the general contractor for the nonprofit’s Diane and Bruce Halle Center for Hope and Healing. Ryan Companies Southwest Region President Chuck Carefoot was there to address the audience as well.
"If you speak to certain members of the business community these days one of the messages you'll hear is, 'Just survive until 2025.' I believe this project, St. Vincent de Paul's aim and certainly mine and Ryan Company's goal is to thrive in 2025," Carefoot said. "Ozanam Manor has a terrific success rate with 98% of their graduating residents remaining housed and not returning to homelessness services one year after moving out. If that isn't thriving, I don't know what thriving is."
The new transitional housing building comes during SVdP’s Housing 2025 initiative to permanently rehouse 2,025 individuals experiencing homelessness by the year 2025. Since the start of the goal in October 2022, the nonprofit has achieved permanent housing for 1,835 individuals through its transitional housing programs.
With the newest housing facility looking forward to moving in its first residents in July 2024, SVdP soon hopes to surpass its Housing 2025 goal — continuing its efforts to help the most vulnerable not only survive but thrive, living their best lives in housed, happy, and contributing to society.
