The project will expand and improve affordable housing in our community, to serve those experiencing homelessness, vulnerable and low-income individuals and families. It is expected to include renovation and new construction and leverage more than $400 million in additional funding for affordable housing in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority (OCHA) will act as MAPS 4 Operator, administrator of funding, project management and oversight, owner and asset manager of properties, provider of rental assistance. The City’s MAPS 4 program will allocate funds to OCHA upon an approved allocation request. OCHA will then loan or otherwise allocate funds into projects.
OCHA will partner with sub recipients for the development of supportive housing, Public Housing Recapitalization, and workforce housing; including on-site wrap around services for supportive housing.
The Community Enhancement Corporation (CEC) will act as the lead developer for Public Housing Recapitalization and any CEC owned properties including supportive housing and workforce housing. Additional sub recipients included in the MAPS4 housing plan are Homeless Alliance, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, and PIVOT.
The MAPS 4 continuum of housing is intended to develop an infrastructure of affordable housing. The additions to the supply of affordable housing will ensure that housing is available to various populations anywhere from the chronically homeless that may require intensive wrap around services in supportive housing to the Very Low Income at risk of becoming homeless, to the middle market (support) workers that are priced out of high cost areas near employment centers. The goal of the continuum is to increase the supply of different housing types and allow an individual to choose the housing type that is best suited for them.
The project will expand and improve affordable housing in our community, to serve those experiencing homelessness, vulnerable and low-income individuals and families. It is expected to include renovation and new construction and leverage more than $400 million in additional funding for affordable housing in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority (OCHA) will act as MAPS 4 Operator, administrator of funding, project management and oversight, owner and asset manager of properties, provider of rental assistance. The City’s MAPS 4 program will allocate funds to OCHA upon an approved allocation request. OCHA will then loan or otherwise allocate funds into projects.
OCHA will partner with sub recipients for the development of supportive housing, Public Housing Recapitalization, and workforce housing; including on-site wrap around services for supportive housing.
The Community Enhancement Corporation (CEC) will act as the lead developer for Public Housing Recapitalization and any CEC owned properties including supportive housing and workforce housing. Additional sub recipients included in the MAPS 4 housing plan are Homeless Alliance, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, and PIVOT.
The MAPS 4 continuum of housing is intended to develop an infrastructure of affordable housing. The additions to the supply of affordable housing will ensure that housing is available to various populations anywhere from the chronically homeless that may require intensive wrap around services in supportive housing to the Very Low Income at risk of becoming homeless, to the middle market (support) workers that are priced out of high cost areas near employment centers. The goal of the continuum is to increase the supply of different housing types and allow an individual to choose the housing type that is best suited for them.
Creston Park is located just north of the historic NE 23rd Street commercial corridor on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. This development will be one of the largest investments in new affordable housing on the Northeast side of Oklahoma City in 40 years.
Phase 1 demolition and construction on NE 28th and NE 29th Streets is scheduled to begin in late 2024. At this time, no residents will need to relocate for renovation and construction to begin. The 15 or so residents who will need to relocate for phase 2, will be notified well in advance and provided with several options for relocation. All residents will be given the first right of return once construction is complete. When completed, Creston Park will have 370 family homes, 60 independent senior units and 150 assisted living units.
Creston Park will include ample open space and parks, a 5,000 sf medical clinic, 7,500 sf education center, nationally certified Family Resource Center, and 10,000 sf of workforce development training space. At the center of this development is the HUB, a community center that includes space for a kitchen facility, multi-purpose rooms, offices for healthcare and service organizations, and outdoor community space.
The development covers approximately 30 acres, once complete the new neighborhood will offer 1-4 bedroom units to both families and seniors making from 0% to 80% of area median income; making it a truly affordable mixed-income community.
The predevelopment of Oak Grove redevelopment is slated to begin fall 2023 and will create one of the most progressive networks of affordable housing in the US. With $1 million in MAPS 4 funding allocated to the redevelopment of the Oak Grove Neighborhood, the entire project is estimated to be a $66 million investment. This is a substantial investment in affordable housing for individuals and families in need.
In addition to MAPS funding, OKC City Council approved a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding for this development to address much needed infrastructure improvements. Additionally, OCHA has partnered with a local company OnCue for the inclusion of commercial space in the redevelopment master plan. OnCue’s partnership means Oak Grove will have closer access to fresh groceries, fuel and employment opportunities.
Vita Nova is Oklahoma City’s first supportive housing development of MAPS 4 Homelessness. Once complete, it will provide 75 modern studio apartments for people experiencing homelessness. The total cost of renovation is estimated to be between $5M and $7M and will take 9-12 months.
In Phase 1, OCHA will transform the motel’s 310-square foot units into studio apartments and create additional common area and meeting spaces. In Phase 2, OCHA will renovate the on-site commercial kitchen, dining hall and common spaces to provide wrap-around services to residents.
A new-construction project and a collaborative CoC Builds application between OCHA and MAPS 4 partners Mental Health Association Oklahoma and The Homeless Alliance, the proposed project is expected to leverage $5 million from HUD and at least $5 million in other sources to build 40 units of Permanent Supportive Housing dedicated to people with disabilities who are experiencing long-term homelessness, including those who are unsheltered. The services onsite will come from The Homeless Alliance and other community partners. This project will be a part of the Strategic Plan to End Homelessness in Oklahoma City known as Key to Home.
The 4th Supportive Housing project under MAPS 4 Homelessness will be with a 3rd party developer undertaking the construction, and The Homeless Alliance providing on-site case management services. This 38-unit project has been designed, and the project is expected to be placed into service within 18 months – by July 2026. This project is leveraging low-income housing tax credits and other sources thanks to funds from MAPS 4. This project will also target those with disabilities who have been experiencing long-term homelessness.
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority, together with the City of Oklahoma City, received a $500,000 Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2023. The Transformation Plan will be complete in mid-2025 and will then be submitted to HUD. In 2026 OCHA and the City of OKC will apply for a Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. If we receive the award from HUD, up to $50 million will leverage hundreds of millions of dollars from other public and private sources to replace 348 public housing units with over 700 units of mixed income housing. Will Rogers Courts was built in the 1930s. After the renovation of the property, housing priority will be given to current residents of Will Rogers Courts who will have the right to return to the new housing. Read more about the engagement and planning process for the Will Rogers Courts and Westwood Exchange neighborhood at choiceokc.org.
Though not officially defined like affordable housing categories, “workforce” housing is typically defined as households between 80-120% of area median income. However, in Oklahoma City, we will be targeting households with between 70-90% of AMI for rental and for-sale housing in this category, subject to adjustment as needed.
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, formerly known as Section 8, is a federally funded program for assisting very low-income families, elderly, and disabled households to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. All redeveloped Public Housing units will receive project based rental assistance (PBV) administered by OCHA. Additional PBV assistance and traditional HCV assistance will be utilized for supportive housing units.