Chrysalis House, Inc.
1589 Hill Rise Drive
Lexington, Kentucky  40504
Tel: (859) 255-0500 

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3 centers join to help women find housing
By Cassondra Kirby

HERALD-LEADER STAFF  REPORT

Three Lexington agencies that provide support for struggling  women are teaming up to help those women find adequate housing.
 

Each year, SHOW, or Supportive Housing Opportunities for Women,  will help up to 125 residents or clients of Chrysalis House, Hope  Center for Women or Virginia Place in Lexington with counseling,  transitional housing, permanent rental housing or homeownership,  Lisa Minton, the executive director of Chrysalis House, said  yesterday.
 

These three centers serve a variety of women, including those who  are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction or those who have  children and are attending school.
 

"I think owning your own house is the American dream," Minton  said. "People everywhere look for the security of having a home to  call their own."
 

This program is the first of its kind in the United States,  Minton said. She said other states have talked about the idea of  such a partnership but haven't acted on it.
 

Minton said a $100,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of  Cincinnati and a $50,000 grant from the Kentucky Corporation and a  $50,000 grant from Fannie Mae will allow the program to "hit the  ground running."
 

She said some of the money will be used to hire a full-time  housing director to assist SHOW clients in finding housing that fits  their needs and also to help with down payments or closing costs.
 

"Today we begin to offer hard-working, dedicated, recovering  women a second chance to receive stability, independence and dignity  that comes with permanent affordable housing," Minton said.
 

Participating SHOW agencies include Bluegrass Regional Mental  Health Mental Retardation Board, Inc., Community Ventures  Corporation, Faith Community Housing Foundation, Lexington Habitat  for Humanity, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority and  REACH, Inc., or Resources, Education and Assistance for Community  Housing.
 

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government also is supporting  the program, Minton said.
 

"The city of Lexington is proud to be a partner in this next step  for so many women toward family and personal stability and financial  independence," Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac said in a press release  yesterday.