Release Date: Jul 16, 2009
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Summary:
The Ohio Conference of Community Development, Inc. has awarded its 2009 President's Award to the River Commons project in Dayton. 

"It was a true competition for this year's award," said Evelyn King, OCCD President.  "We received several outstanding proposals, but after lengthy deliberations, the committee selected the River Commons project for this year's award.  This was a true example of cooperation between agencies to fulfill a need."

River Commons, located at 144 E. Helena St. in Dayton, is a 100-unit apartment building which is owned by Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority (DMHA).  River Commons was based on a documented need to produce permanent, supportive housing options for the chronically homeless, and was a partnership among the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, and DMHA as the financing partners and The Other Place and Goodwill Easter Seals of the Miami Valley as the supportive services partners.

In 2006, Montgomery County, the City of Dayton and a leadership team developed the "Community 10-Year Plan for Ending Chronic Homelessness and Reducing Overall Homelessness."  One of the major goals of the plan is to develop 750 units of permanent supportive housing over a 10-year period.  River Commons was the first successful project implemented after the plan was developed. 

Tawana Jones from the Montgomery County Department of Community and Economic Development nominated the River Commons project for the OCCD President's Award.  The award will be presented at the OCCD Annual Awards Banquet on July 29, 2009 in Columbus.