By Shernita Bethea,
Housing/Human Services Manager

The region celebrated the opening of its third regional supportive housing residence, South Bay in Portsmouth.  South Bay, which was developed by Virginia Supportive Housing, will house 60 formerly homeless individuals in efficiency apartments. Forty-two South Bay units are allocated to Portsmouth residents while six units will be allocated to residents of Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. These cities also provided funding and rental subsidies to the project while Portsmouth donated the actual site.
 
Residents of South Bay sign leases and pay 30% of their income in rent. The minimum monthly payment is $50. The $6.9 million project is also a 'green' facility, using eco-friendly concepts in the design and construction of the complex on South Street.

There are two other such projects in this area, Gosnold Apartments in Norfolk and Cloverleaf Apartments in Virginia Beach. A fourth project is slated to be located in Chesapeake.

Additional funding came from Virginia Community Development Corporation for Low Income Housing Tax Credits and loans from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Grants were provided by The Hampton Roads Community Foundation, Beasley Foundation & Southeast Virginia Community Foundation.