Free program helps Permanent Supportive Housing residents train for careers in IT

Commons at Livingston resident Tyren Thompson graduated from the Per Scholas program in Columbus on March 11. Here he received his certificate and pin from instructor James Miao.

By LANCE CRANMER                                                               lcranmer@nationalchurchresidences.org

COLUMBUS, Ohio — About a year ago Tyren Thompson was facing some tough times.

“I had lost my apartment in May 2015. I was struggling for a little while,” he said. “Then someone suggested I set up an appointment with National Church Residences.”

Tyren, a United States Army veteran, quickly found a new home at Commons at Livingston, National Church Residences’ Permanent Supportive Housing facility in Columbus that is dedicated to providing housing for formerly homeless military veterans.

“They put me in with other veterans and I was thrilled with that,” Tyren said. “It’s been a great experience. They have a lot of services that are offered.”

Among those services available is career training.

Delrita Parks, the Employment Coordinator for National Church Residences Permanent Supportive Housing residents, suggested to Tyren that he enroll in Information Technology classes in a program called Per Scholas.

“Per Scholas is a national nonprofit organization that trains people for life-changing careers at IT professionals,” Delrita said. “The program’s focus is on helping unemployed and underemployed people get a career started in IT, which leads to their A+ certification and assistance in job placement with local companies and IT staffing agencies.”

Tyren graduated the program on March 11, 2016 and participated in the Graduation and Pinning Ceremony at the Per Scholas facility in Columbus.

After graduation he had a moment to reflect on the hard work he put in over the last year.

“I’ve worked very vigorously to get this done,” he said. “Getting up early, studying hard, all of those things.”

In his life, Tyren, who is 32-years old, has always worked hard to overcome adversity. He arrived in Columbus a decade ago from his native Louisiana after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Now that he has graduated, Tyren said his next goal is to land a job in his field.

“Per Scholar benefits our residents because it’s a free program and trains for jobs that exist in a given market based on market data,” Delrita said. “This program is ideal for any resident who has been economically displaced but has the drive and aptitude to succeed in IT. National Church Residences is proud to have graduates from Per Scholas.”

Deltrita Parks, National Church Residences Employment Coordinator, Tyren Thompson, Sara Perrotta, National Church Residences Case Manager, and Crystal Branch-Parms, National Church Residences Team Leader.

 

The Happiest Place in Housing! Dayton’s Lyons Place II

By LANCE CRANMER                                                                 lcranmer@nationalchurchresidences.org

DAYTON, Ohio — Walt Disney may not appreciate calling it, “The Happiest Place on Earth,” but it is certainly the most satisfied spot in all of National Church Residences.

Lyons Place II, a 55-unit affordable senior housing facility managed by National Church Residences located on the campus of the Dayton (Ohio) VA Hospital, celebrated its first anniversary in April with the knowledge that it has the highest overall customer satisfaction rating in all of the organization’s properties.

“Imagine that,” said Francis Jensen, a Navy veteran and the very first resident of Lyons Place II.  “This is a wonderful place to live. From the get-go it’s been a Godsend. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

A nationwide survey based on nine components – readiness to solve problems, responsiveness, property appearance/condition, quality of management services, quality of leasing services, quality of maintenance service, property rating, relationship rating and renewal intention – gave Lyons Place II an overall satisfaction percentage of 97.1 percent.

“This translates to happy residents and speaks clearly to our Mission,” said Pam Monroe, National Church Residences Vice President of Property Management. “This quality and level of service is a key factor in building customer loyalty and keep them at the property.”

Shari Hoosier was hired in February 2015 to become the Property Manager at Lyons Place II – bringing with her 17 years of experience in the housing field.

“My philosophy is to try to make it a place where I would want to live,” Shari said. “I wanted a place with a great quality of life and a peaceful environment where people get along and they help each other.”

Being located on the grounds of a VA hospital, Lyons Place II naturally attracted several military veterans to become residents.

“I came for an appointment at the VA and I saw they were building here,” said Melvin Garland, a Marine veteran who moved in last April. “I checked into it at the VA and they got me hooked up. It’s a good location. It’s a safe building. We look out for each other and we have a good time.”

Shari said that several of her residents had struggled with homelessness or had lived in places where they weren’t free to live the way they wanted.

“They did not have their independence,” she said. “This building gave them their independence back. It’s theirs. And it’s an independent environment.”

“The word ‘independent,’ that is a blessing. They don’t hover over you. They’re a helping hand when you need it,” said Harold Owens, Sr., who moved in shortly after the building opened.  “You can go to bed a 9 if you want. You don’t have to turn the TV off. I can watch SportsCenter as much as I want to. I do whatever I want to. For a few years you can say I’m doing it my way!”

Charles Wright, a retired business owner who just turned 80, said that he’d lived in other facilities in Dayton, but he never felt at home until he arrived at Lyons Place II in July.

“I couldn’t get acquainted with others (at the other buildings). I came here and within a week’s time I had the whole building around me,” he said. “My kids told me, ‘Dad, it’s really nice to see you happy again.’”

Shari said that a big part of what she and the rest of the staff at Lyons Place II try to do every day is to let the residents know they’re cared for.

“Showing love. Just the act of kindness. Asking how they’re doing. Asking if they need any help,” she said. “If they feel loved, they show love to each other.”

“I’ve been half-way around the world and that’s the one thing that is world-renowned: kindness,” Harold said. “One morning I was depressed and I was coming out of my apartment and I passed by the maintenance guy and he just said something nice to me. It uplifted me. I told him thank you. He didn’t even know why.”

Charles agreed that the staff at Lyons Place II makes all the difference.

“The staff here, no way in the world you could beat this staff. No good reason to even try,” he said. “If you have a problem, they’re on it like stink on a skunk.”

Shari said that when she accepted the position at Lyons Place II she prayed that the people who needed this positive environment the most would find it.

“I got the unique opportunity to meet every resident as they applied. I prayed that God send the people who truly need to be here,” she said. “Since we’ve been here, every service that we’ve needed we’ve gotten. People have donated clothes, food. Every need has been met. That’s a blessing.”

Thinking about the last year he’s spent at Lyons Place II, Francis had one final thought.

“I ain’t going nowhere else but here,” he said. “I’m home. That’s it.”

VA Secretary McDonald visits Commons at Livingston

 

VA Secretary Robert McDonald meets with Navy veteran and Commons at Livingston resident Lori Vanzant Tuesday morning in Columbus, Ohio.

By LANCE CRANMER                                        LCranmer@nationalchurchresidences.org

COLUMBUS, Ohio – United States VA Secretary Robert McDonald paid a visit to National Church Residences Commons at Livingston facility in Columbus Tuesday morning and thanked the organization’s leadership for the work it does at providing permanent supportive housing to veterans.

“As I go around the country, the places that are effective in eliminating homelessness are the communities that work together,” Secretary McDonald told a small group that included veterans from the facility as well as members of the National Church Residences leadership team. “That collaborating you have here is tremendous and very critical for getting the job done.”

McDonald received a guided tour of Commons at Livingston, which included a tour of former Navy firefighter Lori Vanzant’s apartment.

While visiting with Vanzant, McDonald, a retired Army Ranger, shared stories about their children, military experience, and traveling the globe while serving their country.

Later, McDonald met with Commons at Livingston resident Travis Goodman, a former Marine, who shared his positive experience about living at the facility.

“You get out what you put into it,” said Goodman. “It’s a blessing to get a second chance at life.”

Vanzant and Goodman joined McDonald as he met with National Church Residences senior leaders to discuss the organization’s mission and plans for the future in regards to veterans.

“Every study I’ve looked at … says the rate of return in getting people into housing first is undebatable,” said McDonald.

During the discussion, McDonald recalled a life lesson passed on to him by a pastor while he was living in Japan as an executive for Procter & Gamble about how life is all about the relationships we experience. He then related that to the relationships National Church Residences builds in communities that lead to innovative projects like the Commons at Livingston.

“It doesn’t surprise me that to do something this miraculous, it requires relationships at so many levels,” McDonald said.

He added that he would like to see more National Church Residences facilities like Commons at Livingston in other cities around the country to help eliminate homelessness for veterans.

“We will pretty much go where we’re invited,” said National Church Residences President and CEO Mark Ricketts. “We can do our mission work anywhere.”