Cascade Garden: RIHA/CHS Special Needs Complex
Cascade Garden, the new Rock Island Housing Authority (RIHA) and Community Housing Services (CHS) Special Needs Complex has been funded. Construction began in June 2010 and has a targeted completion date of August 2011. The ground breaking for the new facility was celebrated on July 14, 2010.

Project Funding
The estimated $12.7 million project was funded by a combination of a private first mortgage debt, affordable housing tax credit equity, Equity Replacement Funds (ERF) from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), Operating Fund Financing Plan (OFFP), Replacement Housing Factor Funds (RHF) and donations. Approximately $8.6 million of the project came from stimulus funded programs.

RIHA is the second Public Housing Authority (PHA) nationally to utilize the new OFFP, and it is the first PHA to utilize OFFP to leverage its operating subsidy reserves to help finance new development. In the past, operating funds could not be used to develop housing.

Project Partners
Funding partners include the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), Rock Island Housing Authority (RIHA), Community Housing Services (CHS) and Express Development Rock Island, LLC.

Development partners include Express Development, Inc., CHS, and Tyson & Billy Development, LLC. Express' expertise lies in development, construction, property management and asset management. Tyson & Billy brings over 30-years of housing development and architectural experience utilizing various HUD funding sources to the project. CHS is the non-profit affiliate associated with RIHA.

Cascade Garden Offers Residents a Service-Enriched Housing Option
Cascade Garden offers residents service-enriched housing that respects individual rights to privacy and autonomy. It will provide an enhanced quality of life for individuals and families often struggling to survive because they may feel isolated from the necessary resources, services and enrichment and recreational opportunities due to the stigma associated with disabilities. With the active support of its partners, the RIHA/CHS Special Needs facility will ensure that residents have access to the services they need to create a safe and stable environment, while providing opportunity and support for the realization of individual goals and aspirations.

Project Description
Cascade Garden is a 70-unit apartment style development designated for individuals and families containing at least one household member with a disability. The units will be affordable, offer independence, accessibility, and visitability. The complex will provide high-quality affordable housing and a means of delivering the services and support required for persons with disabilities to become empowered, contributing members of the community.

The special needs facility will include 9.5 acres located between 5th Street and 9th Street at 2739 9th Street in Rock Island, Illinois. The complex will be completed in a single phase of new construction. The family development will include 8 two-bedroom units, 46 one-bedroom units and 14 three-bedroom units. The apartments will be designed and constructed to meet special needs including wheelchair access, ramps, wider doorways, lower cabinets and roll-in showers.

The goals of the project are to meet the needs of persons with disabilities by (1) removing the barriers to community living, (2) providing quality safe, affordable housing and (3) providing the case-management, support-services and activities required for long-term success.

Serving the Diverse Rock Island Population
Cascade Garden will serve families with mixed-incomes. In addition to the income-based units, there are some Market Rate Units with no Income Limits. The affordable housing is based on area median income (AMI) levels. Households that qualify for affordable housing must not exceed the following income limits.

Special Needs Supportive Services
Supportive Services at Cascade Garden will be provided by the Robert Young Center staff. The facility will also accommodate access for much needed services such as healthcare providers and public transportation to supermarkets and to other community amenities - each of which is critical to ensuring the independent life style that the complex will offer.

The Robert Young Center will provide as many hours per week of case management as required to enable each special needs person to live independently within the complex. Supportive services will include, but not be limited to:

	24-hour supportive medical support and management
	Medication administration, monitoring and management
	Coordination of doctors, doctors appointments and related treatments
	Nursing and dental care
	Nutritional counseling
	Outpatient healthcare services
	Assistance and support in embracing healthier lifestyles
	Assistance with activities associated with daily living such as grooming, cooking and preparing meals and getting ready for work
	Employment assistance, training and job placement through a supportive employment program in conjunction with the department of occupational rehabilitation
	Social integration
	Emotional management
	Behavior management
	Enhancement of resident ability to live independently
	Shopping trips and outings to various activities

Robert Young services will allow Cascade Garden to develop service enriched housing that will allow persons with disabilities to live and work successfully throughout the community. It will ensure that residents have access to the services they need to create a safe and stable environment coupled with an enhanced the quality of life. The Special Needs facility will provide a supportive and responsive environment, while providing the opportunity and support required for the realization of individual goals and aspirations.