Casa de Francisco

In September 2007, Immaculate Conception Shelter & Housing Corporation received notification that we qualified for funding under the Next Steps initiative. With this funding, along with the support of the City of Hartford and SAMA (Spanish American Merchants Association) and the North Frog Hollow Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, the goal of building 50 units of supportive housing at 168 Hungerford Street was close to becoming a reality. 

Over the next 18 months, a team of individuals worked tirelessly to help finalize the plans for Casa de Francisco. The project consultant, Brad Schide, architect, Paul Bailey, and builder, Enterprise Builders, all worked closely in formulating plans to help ensure Immaculate’s vision of supportive housing would be met. Pro-bono attorneys, Shipman & Goodwin, reviewed closing documents and requirements on the agency’s behalf.

On May 29, 2009, Immaculate closed with the Connecticut Housing and Finance Authority, and received a Next Steps first mortgage loan. The City of Hartford also awarded Immaculate a HOME Grant to help complete the financing.

On June 1, 2009, Enterprise Builders began clearing the site. On July 2, 2009, we held a ceremonial groundbreaking. The entire development was expected to be completed by December, 2010. However, the project was finished ahead of schedule, much to the credit of Enterprise Builders. Immaculate’s administrative staff moved their offices from the first floor of the Immaculate Church proper (the Shelter is in the basement) across the street to the state-of-the-art apartment complex in early October, 2010.

Clients began moving in on October 15th, bringing life and renewed hope to the building. Twenty-five of the apartments are for formerly homeless individuals, and the remaining 25 are occupied by individuals with incomes below 50% of the area’s median income. Case managers are available to offer new residents a refresher course in daily living skills.

Immaculate was able to give 13 client residents jobs within the building for a few hours a week, such as working the front desk and monitoring the computer lab, to help build their resumes. Clients who remain in the shelter, and are working on their plans, come and volunteer at Casa de Francisco, happy to have a safe place to be during cold winter days.

On any given day residents can be found in the Community Room watching a movie, enjoying a sporting event, or playing Bingo. We’ve watched clients continue to work on their plans, get jobs and represent the agency, and themselves, with pride.