Hisle Park Apartments Grand Opening
RiverHills Bank proudly supports another Affordable Housing Project. Through partnership with The Model Group, Inc., the Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority, and Shawnee Family Health Center; RiverHills Bank was able to provide a $5,959,687 construction loan, and as a Member Bank of FHLB of Cincinnati we co-sponsored the application for $908,598 in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) Grant Funds that were awarded to the Hisle Park Apartments project.
Millie Hurtt, VP, Development Officer was honored to represent RiverHills Bank at the Grand Opening of the 45-unit Multi-Family New Construction Affordable Housing project called Hisle Park Apartments located in Portsmouth, Scioto County, OH.
Larry Hisle, whom the building is named for, was in attendance. Mr. Hisle has dedicated his life to helping children and those in need. Mr. Hisle is a former professional baseball player who was a two-time All-Star, as well as the 1977 American League RBI champion. He also coached two World Series-winning teams for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mr. Hisle said that having this building named after him was “the greatest honor ever bestowed upon him”. Mr. Hisle gave an eloquent speech at the event, where he said, “Life is tough”. “This incredible building gives people the opportunity to succeed”. He went on to say that “This facility will give people opportunities that they would never have received and that with work, effort and resources, your chances of success are just as good as anyone else in this country”.
Pictured: Guy Ford (OHFA), Larry Hisle, and Millie Hurtt (RiverHills)
Hisle Park Apartments is the very first project in Scioto, Adams, or Lawrence County that aims to address the housing needs of transition age youth and young families who are at risk of homelessness. This population includes children aging out of the foster care system, LGBTQ youth, and parenting youth and their children, receiving support from the Department of Children’s Services. It is estimated that each year there are 15 families and 25 youth emancipating from the Dept of Children Services; plus 90 homeless youth for a total of 130 households in this transition age range that are in need of supportive housing.
This large demand results directly from the opioid crisis that hit this region hard. At a City Planning Commission meeting, the Portsmouth Police Chief said that there are "very few intact families left in the City" and that Portsmouth has basically "lost a generation" as a result of the opioid crisis. This crisis has overwhelmed the foster care system, which does not have the resources needed to ensure that all the children in their care are taught the skills necessary to live independently.
Hisle Park Apartments PSH for Transition Age Youth is the first and only project proposed in this area to assist young adults aging out of the overloaded foster care system. PMHA, one of the area’s largest affordable housing owners, developers and property managers has partnered with Shawnee Family Health Center, one of the area’s most experienced service providers to create this project. They have retained Model Group, a developer with vast LIHTC and PSH experience to assist with developing and constructing the facility.
