Dayton Children’s breaks ground on new kinship housing project in Old North Dayton

Dayton Children’s Hospital celebrates the groundbreaking of a transformative kinship housing project in Greater Old North Dayton, an initiative designed to support kinship families by providing safe, affordable housing. The development will include 26 ADA-accessible housing units designed with kinship families in mind.  

“Dayton Children’s vision is to reinvent the path to children’s health in our region,” said Debbie Feldman, president and CEO of Dayton Children’s. “To do that, we recognize that only so much can be done inside the walls of the hospital or the doctor’s office with 80% of health determined by where that child lives, learns and plays."

"This initiative is more than housing. It’s about nurturing a sense of belonging and providing support for kinship families who give so much to the children in their care.” 

Many families providing kinship care have obstacles in housing, such as living in a retirement community that doesn’t allow children. These homes, located on Alaska and Rita Streets, will have at least three bedrooms, ensuring space for siblings and larger families. Shared spaces like a community garden, play areas and a community room will foster connection and support optimal child development. These homes will also be close to urban amenities, schools, parks and Dayton Children’s Hospital, creating easy access to essential resources. Program connections to education, food and social services will help families thrive while reducing isolation. 

more than just housing 

The project was born three years ago from conversations with Dayton Children’s community health workers. They identified a growing need for stable housing among kinship families—grandparents, aunts, uncles and others stepping in to care for children when parents cannot. 

“This initiative is a first-of-its-kind for a children’s hospital,” said Feldman. “By building a neighborhood dedicated to kinship care and maintaining ownership of these homes, we are ensuring that this support will endure for generations.” 

made possible through community partnerships 

This ambitious project has been made possible through the dedication, expertise and support of numerous partners, including:

• Dayton Children’s Hospital 
• 4% low-income housing tax credits by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (syndicated by Marble Cliff Capital) 
• City of Dayton HOME and American Rescue Plan funds 
• Montgomery County HOME funds 
• Permanent debt from HOPE of the Midwest 
• Construction loan from First Financial Bank 
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 
• The Housing Development Loan (HDL) program  
• Wallick Communities, property management 
• ATA Beilharz Architects 
• CityWide Community Development
• PNC Bank