SILVER STAR APARTMENTS

Battle Creek, MI

2010 Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards Honorable Mention for the Special Needs Housing category.

The first affordable housing community for veterans in Michigan, Silver Star Apartments opened its doors to provide veterans a safe, secure, and supportive place to call home. Comprised of two phases, Silver Star provides 76 affordable homes in Battle Creek, Michigan, adjacent to the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. The property includes a basketball court, library and computer center, workout rooms, art classrooms, counseling offices, and a metal and woodshop. To make this development possible, Cinnaire facilitated the provision of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (Housing Credits). In response to the significant need for affordable housing for veterans, Phase III is currently being pursued.

Services are provided by Zero Day, a non-profit original founded to help prevent chronic homelessness and provide veterans with the skills needed to enter the workforce. Over time, Zero Day’s purpose evolved into a much larger mission. Today, through partnership with Silver Star, Zero Day provides veterans with accredited vocational training, apprenticeship opportunities, supportive services, life skills mentoring, career coaching, and job placement. Headquartered at Silver Star Apartments, Zero Day staff are able to walk alongside residents on an everyday basis. To learn more about Zero Day, listen in to an interview of Zero Day CEO Tim Hunnicutt by Cinnaire Chief Strategy Officer Jim Peffley.

Shae, a Sliver Star resident had this to say of his time before moving in to Silver Star: “The hardest part about being in the military is the transition back to civilian life. Hands down. Nobody tells you that. You train for deployment. You prepare for it. Mentally and physically; but, you aren’t trained or prepared for returning home.” Bob, another resident, said of Silver Star, “I don’t know how anybody doesn’t appreciate this. This is a godsend. This is something that gives a person a chance.” To learn more about Silver Star residents and their home, click here.

Property photos and details compliments of Cinnaire. Learn more about how Cinnaire serves veterans through affordable housing here.

Learn more about how the Housing Credit serves veterans here.