LEBANON, Pa. (WHTM)- The need for affordable housing is at an all-time high, especially for young adults struggling to live on their own, but a new project in Lebanon County hopes to change that.

With state and federal funding, Lebanon County Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities and Early Intervention programs (MH/ID/EI Program) and Lebanon County Housing and Renovation Authority are teaming up to turn a house on North 12 Street into a living space for three young adults ages 18 to 24.

“They’re really young adults, but they’re young adults that may have been in some type of treatment services and haven’t had the chance to live in the community and to learn those independent living skills,” said Holly Leahy, administrator of Lebanon County MH/ID/EI Program.

The home will have shared living spaces, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two kitchen areas.

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“The whole unit will be a shared space, but they will each have their own bedroom, their own bathroom so they feel like they can have their own place to call home,” said Karen Raugh, executive director of Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authority.

Tenants will call this place home for 12 to 18 months while paying no more than 30 percent of their income. The young adults will also have a housing support manager on hand to help them learn new life skills.

“These youth will come in essentially having very little life skills, and that’s what the support staff will be in here to help them learn all those skills, financial skills, social skills, even how to do laundry,” said Raugh.

Leahy works to improve the lives of people living with mental health issues and says she’s seen an increase in young adults who enter treatment facilities but don’t have a home to return to.

“On average, we have three to five young people who are being discharged per year that are in that position,” said Leahy.

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Renovations are expected to cost $400,000. Work inside the home will start in June, with young adults moving in by the end of the summer or early fall.

For more information about the project, go visit the Lebanon County MH/ID/EI Program website and the Lebanon County Housing and Renovation Authority website.

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