Homelessness is one of those touchy subjects that makes downtown developers and leaders uncomfortable, especially when the city's center is evolving into a vibrant urban neighborhood. But it’s also one that Ann Arbor is not ignoring or running away from.

The City Council will consider approving the purchase of an apartment building at 1440 Pear Street on the city's north side. The project calls for creating the Avalon’s Pear Street Apartments by rehabbing the building into 20 units of permanent affordable housing.

The $2.7 million project will provide housing for very low-income tenants and six chronically homeless individuals. Other programs that provide housing for the chronically homeless have been established in other cities across the U.S., such as San Francisco, with varying degrees of success.

The Pear Street Apartments will be managed be managed by Avalon Housing while Catholic Social Services will provide support services. Chronically homeless tenants will be referred by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County.

The project is part of the city’s Blueprint to End Homelessness.

Source: City of Ann Arbor
Writer: Jon Zemke