COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A shared living facility providing 24-hour care to adults living with mental illness and disabilities is coming to the Old North neighborhood.

Melissa’s House was founded by Nate and Elaine Goldberg in honor of their daughter Melissa — who died in 2006 after struggling with mental health issues — with the mission of creating comfortable, nurturing environments for adults living with mental illness.

“It’s a pretty inspiring story of families turning their tragedy into something to support other families going through similar issues,” said Rob Dorans, Columbus City Council President Pro Tem.

A number of shared use facilities have been opened up across Ohio because of Melissa’s House, Dorans said. The facilities help adults who may not need nursing care but still may not have the ability to live on their own because of mental health or other issues.

On Monday night, council approved an ordinance to convert a two-family dwelling East Duncan Street into a shared-use facility for 16 occupants with reduced development standards. The location mattered to Dorans.

“It’s expensive finding the right facility in which folks have access to transit options, access to food, university stores and stuff,” he said. “It’s sometimes difficult to really find the right site that really makes sense for one of these kind of facilities that are really needed.”

Dorans said people sometimes have ideas about shared-use facilities that they can be nefarious but that Melissa’s House has a proven track record.

“When we see folks in the community be able to bring these kinds of resources to have a very specific kind of living space for folks that again, can’t do this on their own, it’s really something that we certainly applaud and want to see more of,” Dorans said.