SBH Wish List

Oliver Apts

MLK Celebration

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I’m so thankful for South Bend Mutual Homes, South Bend Heritage, and the Audrey G Ratner Housing Fund…we are so grateful!

Traci Winston-Williams

South Bend Mutual Homes Resident

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Gemini Apartments

>> $60,000 investment to renovate one (1) unit at Gemini Apartments

9 studio apartments
6 one-bedroom suites

Naming Opportunity: Audrey Gilbert Ratner Suites at Gemini

The units are full of the charm and character of the 1920s Chicago Court style architecture; it would be a main objective of the renovation to preserve the historic aspects of the studio units. The original flooring will be restored, as well as the beautiful doorways, lighting fixtures, entrances to the building, and tiling. In addition, new HVAC, electrical, and plumbing will be installed to ensure the efficiency and safety of the units. While rents are continually rising throughout South Bend, the renovation of these units will provide an affordable housing option in the downtown area, allowing low and moderate income residents the opportunity to live adjacent to the wonderful historical and urban aspects of the surrounding neighborhood.

Hope Ave Homes

>> Kitchens: $10,000 investment for one unit kitchen install (22 units)

>> $4,500 investment for purchasing furniture for one unit (22 units)

Hope Ave Homes is a new Permanent Supportive Housing development in South Bend to offer apartment units for individuals that are currently experiencing homelessness. Housing First is an innovative, evidence-based approach to engage and rapidly house individuals who are homeless into PSH and to provide intensive and flexible services to stabilize and support housing tenure. Providing housing for these vulnerable individuals is a demonstrated and critical need in South Bend; Hope Ave Homes offers a chance to continue eliminating homelessness in our community.

Individual Development Account Matching Grants

>> $20,000 investment provides 10 clients with a grant of $2,000 to go toward a savings and/or IDA account.

IDA accounts: Individual Development Accounts help low-income individuals and families save towards targeted goals to help personal build assets. IDA accounts are an excellent stepping-stone for individuals struggling with finances to begin working toward a specific goal, like owning a home, paying for college, or starting a small business.

Personalized financial counseling: In addition to offering IDA accounts, SBH offers personalized financial counseling to help individuals learn how to manage debt, increase their credit score, and manage their finances. Financial counseling is often the first step toward realizing potential and the opportunity that is available.

Homeownership Down Payment Assistance

>>$25,000 total investment to provide 5 new homeowner clients with down payment assistance

Resident Engagement & Aging in Place

>>$100,000 investment to provide capital repairs and resident engagement services to senior residents at Robertson’s Apartments

The Aging in Place program benefits low-income residents at Robertson’s and Historic Rushton Apartments. The program offers residents weekly social, cultural, and educational programs, as well as offsite trips and assistance in signing up for critical health services. The program helps develop a sense of belonging to a community, and is dedicated to creating activities that appeal to seniors and benefit their overall well-being.

Owner Occupied Home Repair

>> $10,500 investment benefits three (3) elderly, female homeowners with health and safety home repairs

The Rebuilding Together mission is to bring together volunteers and the community to improve the lives of low-income, elderly, disabled, and veteran homeowners. As homes are improved, homeowners are able to stay in their residences longer; homes are less likely to become vacant, and neighborhoods are improved and less likely to fall into disrepair, thus working for the benefit of the whole community.

The NNRO has recently started a pilot home repair program, and has already repair one female head-of-household home by replacing the roof, gutter, and water heater and doing a waterproofing treatment. These upgrades allowed the homeowner to stay safety in her home.

Colfax Center & Gallery Updates

>> $150,000 investment provides critically needed repairs to the first floor gallery space at the Colfax Cultural Center.

Naming Opportunity: Audrey Gilbert Ratner Gallery

Repairs include maintenance upgrades as well as aesthetic upgrades to make the space a contemporary and inviting gallery space. Hundreds of families go through the Colfax Gallery on a yearly basis, making it a vital touchpoint to reach underserved families, and children especially, with the healing power of the arts.

Colfax Gallery is a non-traditional gallery space that hosts a total of 6 exhibitions: 3 shows for individual, local artists; the annual Intermediate School Exhibition for SB middle school students; a 4-state juried exhibition on the subject of art and social justice; and a show for community arts organizations. Additionally, the Gallery supports a summer art program for children living in the neighborhood for two of SBH’s residential buildings. Through the operation of the Gallery, art is brought to the general public and invites more people to become interested in the visual arts.

New Initiatives Fund

As SBH continues to explore new and innovative programming, resident engagement initiatives, and revenue-generating opportunities in affordable housing, technology, and development, the New Initiatives Fund enables SBH to invest in our community, launch pilot programs, and create new partnerships.