DHA and Volunteers of America National Services Celebrate Successful Expansion of Affordable Senior Housing in Oak Cliff

The Oaks provides 260 new mixed-income apartment homes for persons 62 years of age or older.

DALLAS – November 9, 2023 – DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas and Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS) are excited to announce the grand opening of a new affordable senior housing development which expands the inventory of quality, affordable housing options in South Dallas. The Oaks, a 50MM redevelopment project, co-developed by DHA and VOANS, celebrated its opening with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony today, November 9.

 Ribbon Cutting speakers sharing project insights include:

• Richard J. Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Betty Culbreath, Board Chair of DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas
• Mike King, President and CEO of Volunteers of America
• Cassandra Silvernail, Senior Vice President of Bank of America

DHA engaged VOANS as its partner to redevelop the Brooks Manor site located in District 1 within the historic Oak Cliff neighborhood as part of a public-private partnership to establish safer, more inclusive communities that encourage growth for the community.

 The Oaks represents the first of eight redevelopment strategies that DHA is currently focused on to modernize and enrich its neighborhoods with quality market and subsidized rental housing.

 The 260-unit housing community located at 630 S. Llewellyn Avenue, Dallas, TX provides:

• 113 low-income housing tax credit units
• 103 Project-based Housing Voucher units
• 27 Public Housing units
• 17 market-rate units

 “We are thrilled to complete this successful co-development with VOANS,” says Tim Lott, vice president of Capital Programs at DHA. “Building the foundation from the ground up, we reimagined the vacant site with a vision to provide safe, comfortable housing for the community, specifically for a population in need of additional supportive resources.”

In addition to on-site features including a library and theater room, community garden, game room, craft room and more, the property will incorporate an on-site health clinic with valued partner Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic (LBU), to provide residents and the surrounding community with access to comprehensive health care services. The property is professionally managed by Volunteers of America Texas.

“We are inspired by the outcome of the innovative partnership between VOANS and DHA,” says Mike King, president and chief executive officer of VOANS. “The community and residents of 260 new units of housing are the ultimate beneficiaries of this creative collaboration between the private and public sector,” he concludes.

“This beautiful development provides a safe, comfortable home for the residents of this community, as well as access to necessary amenities,” says Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard J. Monocchio from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “DHA, Housing Solutions for North Texas’ commitment to meeting the needs of their residents and community produces meaningful results exemplified by developments like The Oaks.”