ECHO Housing & Community Development Receives $308,322 Capital Project Grant to Build New Supportive Housing in Evansville
EVANSVILLE, IN – ECHO Housing and Community Development (ECHO) and United Way of
Southwestern Indiana are excited to announce that ECHO Housing and Community Development has received a $308,322 capital grant from Indiana United Ways in support of Promise Home, a new supportive housing project located at 313 Read Street, Evansville.
The new building will feature 27 one-bedroom apartments for individuals who have experienced homelessness for more than a year and connect them with case management and wraparound services they need to thrive. This infusion of funding enabled ECHO to complete the construction of the building and prepare it for service.
Funding for this project was made possible due to United Way of Southwestern Indiana’s membership in Indiana United Ways, the state membership association for 41 of the 43 United Ways serving Indiana counties. “United Way of Southwestern Indiana focuses on addressing the root causes of poverty and helping all people thrive. We selected ECHO’s Promise Home as a priority project because their on-site, wrap-around services reach our chronically homeless population and support them along the path to self-sufficiency,” said Amy Mangold, President and CEO for United Way of Southwestern Indiana. “This grant from Indiana United Ways enabled the project team to close a critical gap in funding and will make it possible for at least 27 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness to establish stable housing, a cornerstone to self-sufficiency.”
“According to the Point in Time Count by Evansville Commission on Homelessness during January 2024, there were 71 people experiencing chronic homelessness in the Evansville community. The Promise Home will serve 27 individuals that have spent more than 12 months living on the streets, in a shelter, or in another place not meant for human habitation. In 2018, we recognized that homelessness continued to increase in our community, with little support focused on those that had been homeless the longest. That’s what’s driving our newest supportive housing program. In addition to having access to on-going case management and skill building, residents at Promise Home will be able to access wraparound supports under a one-stop model of care, plus on-site transportation assistance, laundry, technology access, and private meeting space,” said Savannah Wood, CEO of ECHO. “Promise Home’s impact will extend far beyond the individuals who live there. It will strengthen the fabric of our entire community. By providing stable housing and support, we are reducing the strain on emergency services, decreasing healthcare costs, and fostering a more compassionate society. We call it Promise Home because it represents hope and a second chance.
We are not only opening a building; we are opening doors to new opportunities and brighter futures. Promise Home is both a place to live and a safe space where residents can find stability, regain their dignity, and rebuild their lives.”
Promise Home is ECHO’s fifth supportive housing project, offering case management and wrap-around services alongside permanent housing. ECHO follows a Housing First model, and its properties include an emergency shelter, five supportive housing communities, and one affordable housing community. Each of ECHO’s supportive housing projects serves a specific population, including individuals, families with children, veterans, and those requiring medical support. All properties serve to improve stability for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The Promise Home is located at 313 Read Street, Evansville. Construction was completed in July 2024. ECHO is preparing the building for occupancy while rental assistance vouchers are being finalized by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). Leasing is anticipated to begin in November. Residents will be selected through the Region 12 Balance of State Coordinated Entry Process, with referrals made through Aurora. Individuals will be selected based on their vulnerability score, which considers the length of time an individual or family has been homeless.
ECHO will work with the referral applicants to complete all necessary paperwork for move in.
You can watch the progress of Promise Home by following ECHO Housing Corporation on Facebook or Instagram. For more information about ECHO and its programs, visit echohousing.org.
