North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Shangri-La Industries and Step Up have started construction on the former Ramada, to create 113 units of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in Asheville.
City council approved $1.5 million for the first three years of supportive services at the development.
“The conversion of the former Ramada reflects our deep commitment to creating housing solutions for all Asheville residents,” said Mayor Esther Manheimer. “This partnership will transform lives while giving necessary access to services Veterans and our unhoused community most desperately need.”
The partnership between Shangri-La and Step Up enables the community to benefit from wrap-around services while expanding affordable housing opportunities and improving the quality of life for underserved communities. Shangri-La Industries has delivered more than 2,000 affordable housing units throughout California and is quickly expanding to extend services throughout the country.
“The only solution to homelessness is to create permanent supportive housing,” said Andy Meyers, CEO of Shangri-La. “This project is a testament to what we can do when government and private industries come together to solve complex problems and deliver services to our communities.”
Step Up provides housing and support solutions to veterans, transition-age youth, and other adults experiencing chronic homelessness and serious mental health conditions. Through permanent supportive housing and comprehensive case management services, they provide recovery, stability, and integration into the community.
“The renovation of the former Ramada will provide much-needed permanent housing for individuals who have been living on the streets of Asheville. This housing model, which provides onsite intensive support services to each tenant is a well proven model to solve homelessness in communities across the country, just like Asheville,” said Tod Lipka, Step Up’s president and CEO.