The closing on the sale of 505 E. Bradley and 506 E. Eureka to the Center for Women in Transition took place on November 30, 2012. The Center for Women in Transition held a dedication ceremony at 506 E. Eureka on December 12, 2012. This ceremony was well covered by local news media both print and television. Cynthia Hulsizer, Interim Executive Director for the Center for Women in Transition, gave a heartfelt speech expressing appreciation for all of the people and organizations that made these homes possible. Neighborhood Services staff and the Illinois Housing Development Authority, along with Mark Watson from Dreamworks Construction, were given recognition for their efforts to provide affordable housing for homeless women. The last NSP home at 608 E. Eureka is scheduled to close on December 20, 2012. At that point, the City would be able to complete the expenditure of the $2,010,000 NSP grant three months prior to the March 30, 2013 deadline. The Center for Women in Transition acquired three new three bedroom homes as well as a rehabilitated duplex to provide housing for five families through the NSP program.
Photo by: Heather Coit/The News-Gazette
Siblings Lydia Loy, 9, and Billy Mason, 7, happily show off their new rooms to Greg Skaggs, Champaign Community Development Specialist, during a tour of their new home as part of the Center for the Women in Transition project in Champaign on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012.