KING 5’s Meg Coyle interviewed Plymouth executive director Paul Lambros and Plymouth tenant Anthony L. Her story highlights the impacts of the “graduation” program that will be housed there, both in terms of public cost effectiveness and personal growth for residents. Sylvia’s Place will also play an important role in downtown’s booming construction scene.

Click here to watch the KING 5 video.

 

Sylvia’s Place, which is located on Third Avenue between Lenora and Virginia, is scheduled to open at the end of 2015. The 65 units in this development (named for Sylvia Odom, the Plymouth Congregational Church member who was instrumental in creating Plymouth Housing Group 34 years ago) will serve residents in Plymouth’s “graduation” program, called HOP (Housing Options Program).

Before moving to Plymouth, these stellar tenants survived the trauma of many years of homelessness. Their first step after leaving the streets was to move into one of Plymouth’s buildings with intensive 24/7 on-site support services.

Since then, these tenants have worked hard to achieve long-term stability in housing. They stay engaged in services, pay their rents on time, and serve as supportive neighbors and active members of their building’s community. As a result, they are ready to live more independently and are equipped for the next step in their housing journey.

However, 90% of Plymouth’s tenants live with at least one disability (including 64% with mental illness) and many cope with the lasting effects of abuse, chronic poverty and post-traumatic stress. For many, a move from 24/7 support to fully independent living is just too big a step.

The Housing Options Program is Plymouth’s innovative response. HOP tenants still live in a Plymouth building and have access to our support services if they need them. This is a perfect intermediate growth step, one that gives tenants a sense of confidence in their ability to continue to build on their success.

 

The tenant featured in KING 5’s story, Anthony L., currently lives in a HOP apartment at Plymouth’s David Colwell Building. Before moving to Plymouth’s Gatewood Apartments in 2008, Anthony was homeless for more than 20 years.

Click here to read Anthony’s inspiring story.

 

As HOP tenants graduate to more independent living at Sylvia’s Place, their former Plymouth units will become available to 65 new residents just leaving homelessness and in need of the intensive round-the-clock support those units provide.

Because we provide these services on-site, no additional public money will be needed for their support services. This is exciting, because it saves our community even more.

 

 

Click here to read about the Sylvia’s Place groundbreaking ceremony last September–the project team, supporters, staff and neighbors came together to celebrate the new building and the legacy of its namesake.