A new $21 million housing project in Lorain is creating affordable living space for veterans and other individuals at risk of homelessness.

Broadway Commons groundbreakingBroadway Commons, funded by Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, will have 62 one-bedroom units, 12 of which will be reserved for veterans. Along with much-needed shelter, the building will provide wraparound services in transportation, behavioral health, and financial counseling.

“The difference is, these people are not just getting a place to live, but a stable life via these services,” says Laura Boustani, chief strategy officer with Cleveland nonprofit CHN Housing Partners. “From what we know in Cuyahoga County, less than 5% of people who come into a place like this will return to homelessness.”

The project is an ongoing effort among CHN, the City of Lorain, and site developers Emerald Development and Economic Network Inc., known as EDEN. Additional funding is provided by Enterprise Community Partners, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Fifth Third Bank, and the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. Upon completion in fall 2027, the building will be co-managed by CHN and EDEN, says Boustani.

Broadway Commons has been a project in the works for the past five years, following a study from the Corporation for Supportive Housing and conversations with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—highlighting the unique vulnerabilities of this population.

The four-story, 54,000-square-foot building has a similar mission as Cleveland West Veterans Housing, a CHN-led initiative designed to reduce the number of unhoused veterans in Cuyahoga County.

“Broadway Commons is much more than a housing development,” said Lorain safety service director Rey Carrion in an email to Fresh Water Cleveland. “It provides the foundation that many individuals need to regain stability and move forward with their lives.

“Safe, permanent housing combined with on-site supportive services gives residents the opportunity to address the challenges they face while rebuilding their independence and sense of purpose.”

Rendering of Broadway Commons.Located at 2147 Broadway Avenue in Lorain, Broadway Commons will offer eligible veterans housing vouchers provided by Veterans Affairs. Under the program, participants contribute 30% of their monthly income toward rent, with vouchers covering the balance. In addition to their private units, residents have access to shared amenities, including a community room with a kitchen and designated computer area.

On the services side, CHN is collaborating with the Cleveland VA, Humility of Mary Housing, and Riveon Mental Health & Recovery. CHN director of real estate development Jennifer Chandler says programming will be tailored to each person’s individual needs.

“There’s a menu of services, plus transportation, budgeting, and financial counseling,” says Chandler. “There will also be life skills training, which could include cooking and how to keep your home clean.”

The development will be built in the Broadway Corridor, a major thoroughfare in Lorain. In addition to repurposing vacant lots, Broadway Commons will provide a substation for the Lorain Police Department on the property.

Ultimately, the project will bring hope to a population that has been largely underserved, says city services director Carrion.

“Like many communities, Lorain has seen a growing need for permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability,” Carrion says. “[Broadway Commons] demonstrates that revitalization is not only about new buildings and economic development but also investing in people. Strong communities are built when everyone has the opportunity to succeed, especially those who are most vulnerable.”