BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A former Bethlehem dance studio is set to become a transitional group home for male homeless veterans.
The city Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday approved a special exception appeal from Jama Properties LLC, asking that no more than 13 residents live on the site at 1512 W. Broad St.
- The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board approved a special exception to allow one West Bethlehem property to become a group home for 13 male homeless veterans at a time
- The transitional housing would provide a space for residents to live for up to 14 months, interact with other veterans, study for continued education, receive counseling and more
- The Hanover Apartments appeal discussion was moved to May 10 at 6 p.m.
Yahya Rahman, founder and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia-basedChanging Lives Center, spoke on his vision for the property in question, sharing that in his experience, such programs have an 85-87 success rate.
“Our program is a 14-month program that provides transitional housing for those veterans,” Rahman said.
“So we would provide educational [assistance] if they needed their GED. We would also give them job readiness to prepare them to go back out into the community to work.
"And then at the end of the 14 months, it is the goal of each veteran that they would be able to be independent and get their own homes.”
“These are just people that are needing some help and support in our communities to be able to get them back to where they need to be. They are down on their luck for a number of reasons. And they come to us to get guidance, and to get help and support to get them back onto their feet.”Yahya Rahman, founder and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia-based Changing Lives Center
Rahman added that at its core, his organization wants to meet veterans where they’re at and provide needed assistance.
“These are just people that are needing some help and support in our communities to be able to get them back to where they need to be,” he said. "They are down on their luck for a number of reasons.
“And they come to us to get guidance, and to get help and support to get them back onto their feet.”
Property features
Rahman said the home would feature a bedroom with windows for each member, enough room for recreation, social spaces, communal dining, a computer lab and leisure areas.
Thomas Barker of Jama Properties said the building’s first floor would feature a large kitchen area, a gathering room and a TV room.
He said there’s also talk of installing exercise equipment in the basement.
Barker said the building has more than 17 rooms total, and it could easily handle the 13 potential bedrooms.
Rahman said the VA's Social Services Department or other similar agencies would screen all potential residents.
“I think this is a great thing for our veterans. We need help.<br/><br/>Bethlehem resident and veteran John McGeehan
Staff on site will have received training from veteran-associated training courses.
A daily three-shift cycle will have one staff member on site at all times, ensuring residents “adhere to the policies and procedures” of the Changing Lives Center.
A case manager would provide welfare services to the residents if needed, including counseling in the case of addiction or other conditions.
The residents would have the option of using public transportation or carpooling in a staff-driven van kept on site.
John McGeehan, a city resident living nearby the property in question, said he’s a veteran, and bringing a resource such as the group home to West Bethlehem would be a great move.
“I think this is a great thing for our veterans," McGeehan said. "We need help.
Other business
The zoning hearing board pushed to the May 10 meeting the appeal from BAHX LLC regarding the proposed apartment properties at 2235 W. Broad St., 2300 Hanover Ave., 2220 W. Florence St. and 2211 W. Broad St.
That discussion will begin at 6 p.m., with the property in question first on the agenda.
The board voted in favor of the appeal from Macada Partners LLC to build a three-story, six-unit multi-family dwelling at 1275 E. 4th St.
It also recognized and approved an appeal after the fact from Pure Light Properties LLC for the property at 1201 E. 3rd St., which requested to convert part of the building’s first-floor corner space into a second dwelling unit.
The board approved a special exception to allow a reuse of the property's corner lot for a commercial retail store.
