Residents of The Scholar House in Cincinnati receive subsidized housing as well support with academics, childcare, and mentorship in a community-supported project aimed at helping disadvantaged single parents achieve educational goals and financial stability.
The Scholar House in Cincinnati officially opened in June 2020 in the Walnut Hills neighborhood as a transitional housing development focused on supporting single parents who are pursuing a post-secondary degree. By the end August, all 44 units were occupied. The Scholar House program was originally conceived in Kentucky and now has been duplicated in Cincinnati at Alice May Easton Place, a building named for the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Cincinnati. One of its first residents, Alyssa Bell, is a student at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College working on a business degree. Another resident, Genesis McPherson is studying to become a nurse through ATA College Tri-County. Other residents attend Gateway Community and Technical College, University of Cincinnati-Clermont College, and Xavier University.
Businesses and nonprofit organizations partnered to bring the plans for the Cincinnati Scholar House to fruition over years of planning. Recently, some of those involved in the project, including organizers, financial contributors, and residents spoke with WCPO 9 about the development and opening of the facility at Alice May Easton Place. The vision of the project was to go beyond just providing housing for struggling single parents, planners also wanted to ensure that residents would also have access to a variety of support programs run by local organizations and businesses. Model Group was one of the primary organizers of the project and has worked on similar housing projects in Kentucky where the Scholar House program began. Vice President of Affordable Housing at Model Group David Thompson spoke about the full scope of the Cincinnati Scholar House, "It's not just about the bricks and sticks. It's about all of the case management, and mentorship, and you know, high quality child care." Model Group worked with Cincinnati Union Bethel and Christ Church Cathedral as the primary organizers of the project.
Cincinnati Union Bethel coordinated funding to provide office equipment for the facility as well as to furnish the Child Development Center at the site. Christ Church Cathedral contributed over $2 million for operations and building maintenance over the next ten years. Dianne Ebbs, a member of the committee at Christ Church that oversaw the funding, said "We at the cathedral are committed to the program because we feel that its structure supports success, and that's what we feel very strongly about." Many local businesses are involved as well. Residents can access financial literacy classes provided by First Financial Bank, cooking classes offered by La Soupe, and the local library, located very nearby the facility, is expected to provide support to the Child Development Center. While COVID-19 has disrupted some of the planned programs, most have been able to convert to a virtual format.
Two residents also shared their experiences of living at the Scholar House with WCPO 9. Alyssa Bell is raising a toddler and twin infants at Alice May Easton Place in Walnut Hills. Bell spoke about the dedication of the staff at the Scholar House, which she credits with the success of the program thus far, "It's going to lead a lot of families and single parent families to success with their education and with life. And a lot of us wouldn't have the same opportunities if they weren't so invested in their passion." Bell noted that the on-site childcare in particular makes it easier for her to stay focused on her studies.
Another resident, Genesis McPherson, lives with her two small children in the building, located on East McMillan Street. McPherson also made mention of the on-site childcare when talking about how the program has helped her pursue her nursing degree, "Scholar House has really been a supportive system for me right now with me being in school full time. I don't have to worry about going anywhere else for daycare for my children. They come right downstairs and go to preschool." She also said that students like her in the building would be overwhelmed with the process of going to college if they also had to worry about full-priced child care and rent, along with all of the other essentials of life.
Eligibility for the program is based on a number of factors. In addition to proving financial need, participants must also have primary or full custody of their children and be enrolled in school full or part time. With the subsidies provided, residents pay no more than 30 percent of their incomes on rent and utilities. In addition to the tangible benefits enjoyed by residents of Cincinnati Scholar House, Bell observed that the residents also experience the benefits of being part of a community of women empowering each other, "I think it's really good to be surrounded with other women, especially other women who are going through motherhood at the same time. It's just an immediate support group here, where you live."