WILMINGTON – New Housing Ohio (NHO) has purchased a former bed and breakfast near downtown Wilmington and is in the process of transforming it into transitional housing for women.

NHO is a southwestern Ohio-based non-profit developer, owner and manager of specialized housing, which primarily serves the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, substance abusers and homeless. NHO has been operating in Clinton County for more than 20 years.

NHO is renovating and furnishing what was formerly Effie’s Place at 157 N. South St. as living quarters for several women, according to Scott Boone, president and chief executive officer of NHO.

Children will not be able to live at the residence which will have a live-in female resident manager.

“We are excited to be developing this new property and hope to be open in the next couple of months,” Boone said. “We are still determining how many women we can accommodate and what we will call our newest location.”

According to the NHO website, it is a community-driven organization that seeks to re-use, revitalize, and reinvigorate the buildings and communities in which it is located. The organization was founded in Lebanon in 1995 as New Housing Opportunities, Inc. and began expanding into other communities throughout the state a decade ago.

“Our goal is to build communities and build people,” Boone said. “We help people get back on their feet if they are homeless; help them recover if they are addicted; and, help them remain stable if they are living with mental illness or developmental disabilities.”

In 2015, NHO opened two Clinton County sober-living houses (Clean Acres) for men and women in Cuba and Blanchester, respectively. They also operate several local residences for low income seniors and the disabled.

“The new facility represents another resource available not only to women participating in the You-Turn Recovery (Drug) Docket but others in need of short term housing,” said Common Pleas Court Judge John W. “Tim” Rudduck.

Although NHO does not offer any type of treatment at its locations, staff do assist residents in finding employment and other services.

Wilmington Presbyterian Church pastor Debbie Linville is assisting Boone and NHO in raising funds and acquiring donations to begin furnishing the new house. For more information, contact Boone at 513-519-5138 or go to www.newhousingohio.org