In 2024, South Bend Heritage proudly celebrated 50 years of impact in affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. This milestone honored decades of dedication to building strong communities and uplifting South Bend’s most cherished neighborhoods. As part of the celebration, we hosted the first-ever SBH Comedy Jam—a night filled with laughter, connection, and culture. The event brought together local talent and national comedians for a memorable evening that reflected the heart and soul of our work: bringing people together, creating joy, and building community in every form.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

50th Anniversary annual report (2024)

South Bend Heritage Foundation (SBH) was established in July 1974 as a 501(c)(3) community development corporation dedicated to reversing neighborhood decline in South Bend through affordable housing, urban revitalization, and resident empowerment. From its early years, SBH pursued a mission to enhance neighborhood beauty, stability, and value, working closely with residents, nonprofit and governmental partners, and financial institutions.

Over more than 40 years, the organization has led transformational projects—including the construction or renovation of 6 major multi‑family housing developments, rehabilitating more than 160 homes, relocating over 25 historic houses, and completing 25+ commercial renovation projects. Elite adaptive‑reuse efforts include developments like Colfax Cultural Center, Charles Martin Youth Center, Northside Terrace and Heritage Homes Southeast Apartments, Washington Dunbar and Robertson’s Apartments, and the historic IUSB Civil Rights Heritage Center, among others.

HISTORY

Financially, SBH continues to sustain its impact through a mix of rental income, federal grants, philanthropic contributions, and project fees. Since its founding in 1974, South Bend Heritage has built a legacy of structural transformation and social support — from neighborhood revitalization and preservation of historic homes to building innovative affordable and supportive housing models, all while fostering resident empowerment and community cohesion.

SBH also pioneered supportive housing in the region. In 2017, it opened the Oliver Apartments, South Bend’s first permanent supportive housing (PSH) development for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, and later launched Hope Avenue Homes, adding more PSH units by late 2022. In 2023, SBH introduced Indiana’s first community land trust, ensuring long‑term affordability of homeownership in the Northeast neighborhoods.

Community building and resident engagement remain central to SBH’s work. It runs cultural programming, youth and senior initiatives, the Charles Martin Youth Center, Rebuilding Together volunteer housing repair events, and neighborhood engagement efforts through the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization (NNRO) .

  • Incorporated in 1974

  • Hired the first two full-time employees

  • Established target area - Near West Side

  • Created Revolving Loan Fund (with Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana

  • Completed 15 housing moves (target houses in danger of demolition)

  • Received first federal funds for affordable housing

1970s

1980s

  • Partnered with the City to stabilize residential section of Monroe Park

  • Affiliated with the Center for Community Change (1983)

  • Historic Landmarks Foundation - Sandi Servaas Award (1984)

  • Purchased & developed Colfax Cultural Center

  • Organized “March on West Washington” (1988)

  • Conducted annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday community celebrations

  • Established F. Jay Nimtz award for exemplary volunteer public service (1989)

  • Organized Annual Red Ribbon Community March Against Drugs (1988)

  • Established CA$H PLUS to prevent red-lining and increase lending

  • Developed commercial properties (1995-1999):

    • Sister Maura Brannick Clinic

    • Chapin Save-A-Lot & Chapin II Market

  • Developed residential affordable housing (1992-1999):

    • Historic Dunbar Corner

    • West Washington Homes

    • Heritage Homes South East

    • Robertson’s Apartments

    • IUSB Northside Terrace Apartments

  • Developed affordable single-family homes (1998):

    • Cushing Street/Near Northwest Neighborhood (NNN) partnership

    • W. Washington single family construction

  • Expanded Colfax Campus - Charles Martin Youth Center (CMYC)

  • Established 21st Century Scholars Partnership at CMYC

  • Developed Bendix Health Clinic in partnership with Memorial Hospital

1990s

2000s

2001:

  • Purchased and Renovated Marycrest Buidling

  • Redeveloped former Blume’s Pharmacy to SBH Offices

  • Received Leighton Award for Non-Profit Excellence

2002:

  • Became Chartered Member of Neighborworks America

  • Established Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization

    (NNRO) & SBH Partnership

2005:

  • Facilitated the reconfiguration of Chapin St. and renaming to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

2006:

  • Facilitated the development of Studebaker Museum on Chapin St.

  • Coordinated Lincolnway West Revitalization (Fire Station #2, Studio 815 & Teachers Credit Union Bank Branch)

2007

  • The Triangle development begins & 17 homes renovated in the Northeast Neighborhood

  • Formed partnership with The Salvation Army for The Kroc Center

2009:

  • Began offering Foreclosure Prevention services

  • Jeff Gibney receives Dorothy Richardson Award from NWA

2010s

2009-2013

  • SBH generates $74 million in Total Economic Output

2010

  • West Washington Homes, Heritage Homes Southeast and Robertsons’ receive major renovations

  • Natatorium becomes Civil Rights Heritage Center

2011

  • Literacy Center opens at Charles Martin Youth Center

2012

  • New Home construction begins in the Triangle

  • Kroc Center opens

  • New discoveries Preschool expands at the Charles Martin Youth Center

  • SBH Celebrates 10 years as NeighborWorks America Partner

  • Historic Rushton Apartments renovation completed

2011-2013

  • New residential facilities completed for Oaklawn & Logan Center

2013

  • City of South Bend receives All-American City Award featuring two SBH partnership projects

  • Notre Dame Center for Arts & Culture opens in collaboration with SBH

  • SBH becomes first not-for-profit general contractor in Indiana

  • Historic Rushton Apartments receive Southhold Restoration Award

2014

  • 10 homes developed on Hill Street in Northeast Neighborhood

  • MLK Breakfast exceeds 700 people & thousands attend events throughout the day

  • St. Joseph Regional Medical Center expands to open Our Lady of the Rosary on Chapin St.

  • Navari Student Outreach Clinic opens at the Marycrest Building

2015 - 2016

  • Started construction on South Bend Mutual Homes Cooperative

  • Began Partnership with Rebuilding Together St. Joseph County

  • Received Spark Award from the Kroc Center for excellence in fund development

  • Selected to participate in first Permanent Housing (PSH) institute

  • Prevented twenty homeowners from entering foreclosure saving their housing

2017

  • SBH opens Oliver Apartments, South Bend’s first permanent supportive housing (PSH) apartment community for individuals experiencing homelessness

  • Launched Heritage Property Management Services, serving nearly 400 residents

  • The Triangle development receives the AIA Northern Indiana Plan Award

2018

  • SBH receives two Lieutenant Govenor’s Excellence in Affordable Housing Awards for Oliver Apartments & South Bend Mutual Homes

  • Acquired the Historic Gemini Apartments. Saved 60 units from demolition

  • SBH receives the Judd Leighton Award for Non-Profit Excellence for Oliver Apartments

  • Completed the restoration of Historic Fire House #7 in the Northeast Neighborhood

  • Completes second Permanent Supportive Housing Institute (Hope Ave) SBH generates $66.8M in Total Economic Output (2014-2019)

2020s

2020

  • SBH introduces the Audrey Gilbert Ratner Fund to assist women

  • NNRO 2.0 initiated to strengthen resident engagement initiatives in the Northeast Neighborhood

  • Third PSH Institute completed (SB Thrive)

  • The NNRO and SBH celebrate 20 years of partnership

  • SBH provides $50,000 in COVID-19 rent relief to residents

2021

  • Historic Chapin Street Apartments renovation completed

  • Audrey Gilbert Ratner Employment Residency Program begins

  • Fourth PSH Institute completed (SB RESI)

  • SBH and the NNRO celebrate the formation of Indiana’s first Community Land Trust (CLT)

  • Joined the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC)

2022

  • Hope Avenue Homes opens as second PSH community

  • SBH receives Mayoral Proclamation commemorating exemplary achievements

  • Hoose Court new construction rental duplexes completed

  • Robertson’s Apartments Courtyard Renovation finished

2023

  • Fifth PSH Institute completed (Tri-Day)

  • SBH receives Agency of Year Award from Real Services

  • First Community Land Trust (CLT) home is sold

  • Gladys Muhammad receives the Dorothy Richardson Award from Neighbor Works America

  • SBH receives it’s largest tax credit award for SB Thrive ($15.3M)

2024

  • Rebuilding Together and SBH celebrate 35 years of service

  • SBH hosts the 35th Annual Art & Social Justice Exhibition & 25th Annual Middle School Exhibition at the Colfax Cultural Center

  • Second Community Land Trust (CLT) home sold

  • SB Thrive breaks ground (54 apartments) in partnership with the Youth Service Bureau