Fall 2009 - Mercy Housing

News from our
Neighborhoods
www.mercyhousing.org
Mercy Housing launches national
Environmental Stewardship Initiative
Throughout the nation, Mercy Housing staff members are
engaged in a focused effort to increase organizational
awareness, knowledge and expertise in sustainability. Mercy
Housing is enhancing its mission by expanding sustainability
practices and strategies across all aspects of the organization.
Through this strategic process, Mercy Housing will balance the
elements of environmental responsibility, financial resources and
social equity throughout the organization’s operations and work
in the creation of healthy communities.
Mercy Housing has a strong history of incorporating
sustainability in all of its programs, specifically in the area of
social equity. The organization’s core values of respect, justice
and mercy address creating healthy communities that are
considerate and supportive to the needs of its individuals.
Mercy Housing will continue this tradition by enhancing
expertise in environmental responsibility through the recently
launched Environmental Stewardship Initiative.
“We believe that sustainably built affordable housing better
serves residents by creating healthier environments and
reducing energy costs,” said Sister Lillian Murphy, RSM,
Mercy Housing CEO. “During challenging economic times,
it is even more crucial that Mercy Housing bring sustainable
development to scale to meet the growing need for stable,
vibrant communities.”
Sustainable development provides tremendous benefits to
residents through reduced energy costs and healthier indoor
environments. Many residents struggle to pay for basic utilities,
A Publication of
Mercy Housing
Fall '09
Margot and Harold Schiff
Residences, a state-ofthe-art, environmentally
efficient Mercy Housing
property in Chicago.
and Mercy Housing
operational costs are also
affected. In partnership
with Stewards of
Affordable Housing for the Future, Mercy Housing is establishing
a baseline measurement of utility consumption for all properties
that will be used as a measurement tool for all future energyrelated improvements.
Mercy Housing is currently conducting web-based Level One Self
Energy Audits, self-assessments conducted to identify specific
upgrades that will reduce energy consumption. Upon completion of
all Level One Self Energy Audits, appropriate upgrades and retrofits
will be identified. Upgrades can be as basic as insulating pipes,
to the installation of complex solar and wind technology systems,
depending on the property.
In addition, development and construction management staff
members are creating national guidelines for future retrofit and
new development efforts. The guidelines will address sustainability
issues including energy performance, water efficiency, indoor air
quality, and material selections. Mercy Housing has established a
partnership with Whirlpool to ensure that all new construction
will include the installation of ENERGY STAR-certified dishwashers
and refrigerators. ENERGY STAR estimates that the average
household can save as much as 30% on utility bills through the
use of certified appliances.
Some of What’s Inside:
• Brian Shuman: Working together to create healthy communities – page 2
• Young resident artist wins national contest – page 5
• Deputy Secretary of HUD visits Mercy Housing Southwest property – page 7
• Mercy Housing Lakefront leaders learn tools for change – page 9
• Building a future through educational programs – page 12
• Mercy Housing California helps create safe space for seniors – page 14
Working together to create
healthy communities
With both housing and health care costs on the rise, many
Americans are often forced to choose between their health
and their homes. According to Foreclosure to Homelessness
2009, a recent study regarding the cause of mortgage
foreclosure, 49 percent of households indicated that a
medical problem contributed to their foreclosure.
The lack of quality, affordable
housing and health care too
often causes financial strain
that may force many families
to live in inadequate, unsafe
housing or may even result in
homelessness. According to
the Joint Center for Housing
Studies of Harvard University,
one in ten extremely lowincome households lived in
inadequate housing in 2007. Inadequate and hazardous
housing conditions greatly contribute to health problems and
can lead to chronic illness.
To increase access to affordable housing and health care
services, Mercy Housing established the Strategic Health
Care Partnership program. Since 1998, Mercy Housing has
enjoyed a relationship with nine national health systems in
order to:
• Facilitate the production of quality affordable housing and improve communities across the United States
• Understand the housing needs of many of the communities
that the health care systems serve
• Advocate for policies and funding that support
affordable housing.
The Strategic Health Care Partners provide opportunities in
Mercy Housing’s core and non-core markets to assess
housing needs, develop implementation plans and provide
the capital and capacity to responsible organizations to
make housing development possible in communities that are
often otherwise overlooked. The partnerships also provide
2 Fall 2009
opportunities to redevelop hospital sites that are no longer in
service, enhance services to residents through relationships with
local hospitals and strengthen mixed-use development projects
by including housing along with medical offices, adult day health
centers and other facilities.
Recent examples of our partnership efforts include Catholic
Health Initiatives $6 million gift to Mercy Housing to improve
properties in Nebraska and Iowa, and the opening of Brook Oaks
Seniors Residences in Waco, Texas, which was made possible
through our partnership with Ascension Health and Providence
Healthcare Network.
The need for this alliance between Mercy Housing and our
Strategic Health Care Partners grows each day. Mercy Housing
values its relationships with the Strategic Health Care Partners
and we look forward to many more years of working together to
contribute to the well-being and health of thousands of residents
in the communities that we serve.
Sincerely,
Brian Shuman
Mercy Housing Chief Operating Officer
Mercy Housing
Strategic Health Care
Partners Include:
Ascension Health
Bon Secours Health System
Catholic Health East
Catholic Health Initiatives
Catholic Healthcare Partners
Catholic Healthcare West
Christus Health
Provena Health
St. Joseph Health System
Contents:
Finding opportunities
during difficult times
I was fortunate enough to grow up in
a household that emphasized the
importance of education and hard work.
Both of my parents grew up with little
money and lived in rural Georgia houses
with leaky roofs and no
plumbing. Despite this
difficult upbringing, my
parents both attended
college and went on to
receive advanced
degrees from Duke
University. Their hard
work and perseverance
allowed me to grow up in
a house that didn’t have
the same disruption of leaky roofs and
splintered floors. Their sacrifices allowed
me to focus on my education. The positive
effect this has had on my life is something
that I do not take for granted.
In many of the communities Mercy
Housing serves, challenges like
substandard housing can prevent
individuals from focusing on other
priorities like giving their children a
quality education. For many low-income
families, quality market-rate rental
housing is simply out of reach. Despite
the nation’s growing number of rental
vacancies, the price of rent has
remained relatively unchanged.
According to a report from the
National Low Income Housing Coalition,
a household earning the federal
minimum wage of $6.55 would have to
work 109 hours per week to afford the
national average fair
market rent for a twobedroom apartment.
In July, the national
unemployment rate rose to
a new high of 9.7 percent,
but was even higher for
Georgia (10.6 percent)
and South Carolina (11.8
percent). Many households
that do have jobs are still spending more
than half of their wages on housing.
Now more than ever, it is important to
provide options to those who have
recently lost jobs and can’t afford to live
in market-rate rental housing. Mercy
Housing works hard each day to reduce
the barriers and challenges our
residents face.
Every day is an opportunity to help
someone reach their potential.
Sincerely,
Pete Walker
Regional President,
Mercy Housing Southeast
Mercy Housing Idaho 4
Mercy Housing Colorado & Southwest 6
Mercy Housing Lakefront 8
Mercy Housing Southeast 10
Intercommunity Mercy
Housing 12
Mercy Housing California 14
Notes from the Field 16
Staff Spotlight 18
Grants & Announcements 19
Resident Spotlight 20
Mission:
To create stable, vibrant and healthy
communities by developing, financing
and operating affordable, programenriched housing for families, seniors
and people with special needs who
lack the economic resources to access
quality, safe housing opportunities.
Mercy Housing
Executive Leadership:
Sister Lillian Murphy, RSM, CEO
Dick Banks, President
Brian Shuman, COO
Vincent Dodds, CFO
Mercy Housing
Board of Trustees:
Sr. Norita Conney, RSM
Larry Dale
Jack Diepenbrock
Sr. Rosyln Hafertepe, SC
Brad James (Chair)
Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski, CBS
Mark Korell
Jack Manning
Sr. Pat McDermott, RSM
Roger Pastore
Rich Statuto
Sr. Linda Werthman, RSM
Leslie Wittmann
Barry Zigas
Mike Zoellner
We’re Green!
This newsletter was printed
on recycled paper with soy inks.
Fall 2009 3
Mercy Housing
IDAHO
MHID celebrates achievements,
looks to the future of Self-Help
Homeownership program
Mercy Housing Idaho’s Self-Help Homeownership
program is enabling an environment where low- to
moderate-income individuals can build a safe
place for their families to live. To date, Mercy
Housing Idaho (MHID) has worked in the Magic
Valley area to complete 104 homes for 185 adults
and 236 children.
MHID staff member Julie Galbraith has left a huge
mark on the self-help homeownership communities
in the Magic Valley. After eight years helping
families achieve their dream of homeownership,
Galbraith has decided to move back to California
in order to be closer to her family.
“Julie has always had the heart, the passion and
spirit of working with our families in achieving
what I consider to be the most difficult
homeownership program there is,” said
Craige Naylor, Mercy Housing Idaho Regional
President. “Julie has left a strong legacy not
only with her fellow employees, but also with
the 104 families she helped get into their
first homes.”
MHID is being very careful not to lose the
momentum built by Galbraith and her team.
Bud Compher, Construction Manager, is
stepping in to take the lead on the program.
“Our work is more relevant now than ever
before,” said Compher. “Mercy Housing Idaho
is poised to complete homes for 17 families by
the end of 2010. None of this would be possible
The Ibarra Family, one of the more than
without the personal investment of staff and the
100 families that are part of the MHID
diligent
oversight of Mercy Housing Idaho
Self-Help Homeownership program
Board Members.”
Community
volunteers
helping families
build their own
home in Idaho
The citizens of Magic Valley have always welcomed the hardworking families into the area and have assisted them with an
opportunity to live in quality housing through the labor of their
own hands. If you or someone you know has interest in
becoming a part of the Magic Valley Self-Help Homeownership
Program, please call (208) 737-1470.
Mercy Housing Idaho receives
$5,000 grant
Mercy Housing Idaho has received a $5,000 grant from the Laura
Moore Cunningham Foundation for Resident Services at properties
in Nampa and Moscow, Idaho.
The grant will support resident programs for low- to moderateincome adult and youth residents. Mercy Housing Idaho offers its
residents free, on-site programs to develop healthy communities
where residents can develop their full potential through programs
4 Mercy Housing
that help families achieve basic stability and programs that work to
improve that stability through enhanced skill-building.
“We are honored to receive this much-needed award from the Laura
Moore Cunningham Foundation,” said Craige Naylor, Mercy Housing
Idaho Regional President. “Mercy Housing Idaho is grateful they share
in our mission to provide resident programs to those who need it most.
This award will help expand our efforts in Nampa and Moscow.”
www.mercyhousingidaho.org
Young resident artist
wins national contest
Hawthorne Village Apartments in Moscow, Idaho is
now the proud home to a nationally recognized artist.
9-year-old Jazmin Rae Baldwin was one of more
than 5,000 hopefuls to enter a nationwide contest
sponsored by the National Affordable
Housing Management Association
(NAHMA) in which only a handful
young artists were selected to
have their work included in the
NAHMA Drug Free Calendar.
Robin Olsen, Resident Services
Coordinator for Hawthorne
Village Apartments, recognized
Jazmin’s potential and submitted
her work to NAHMA.
Mercy Housing Idaho
540 North Eagle Road, #117
Eagle, ID 83616
Phone: 208.939.6838
with a pledge to remain drug free. “She really loves to
play soccer, so this was from the heart,” said Olson.
Facts about
Mercy Housing Idaho
Resident Service Programs like Hawthorne Village’s
after school arts and crafts day are in place at many
Mercy Housing residences across
the nation. These programs allow
Mercy Housing to provide more than
just a roof for the residents we serve.
Support from Mercy Housing donors
helps to provide program-enriched
housing that allows residents, like
Jazmin, to develop their full potential.
•
Idaho was one of the first states where Mercy Housing owned and managed properties after the organization was founded in 1981.
•
Mercy Housing Idaho serves nearly 800 people including seniors, families and people with special needs.
•
Mercy Housing Idaho’s Self-Help Homeownership program has completed 104 homes for 185 adults and 236 children.
•
The average household income for Idaho is $46,136. The average household income for Mercy Housing Idaho residents is $12,086.
“I like to paint and I like to put colors
together,” said Jazmin, who would
like to be an artist when she grows
up. “Also, when you’re an artist
Jazmin Rae Baldwin shows off her you can do whatever you want.”
“We have arts and crafts day at
the After School Program, and
contest award letter from NAHMA
Jazmin has always amazed
The 2010 NAHMA Drug Free
me with her beautiful art,” said Olsen. “She has this
calendar including Jazmin’s work will be available
wonderful knack for color and a great imagination.”
soon. Mercy Housing Idaho congratulates
Jazmin’s winning entry portrays a soccer player
Jazmin for this wonderful accomplishment!
practicing some fancy footwork on the soccer field,
Mercy Housing Idaho
welcomes new staff
Mercy Housing Idaho (MHID) is pleased to announce the addition of Neima Bencomo to the Resident Services
team. She is the Resident Services Coordinator for three family properties in Nampa, Idaho, including
Comstock, Northside and New Hope. Bencomo truly understands the needs of MHID residents because she
spent three years living at Hawthorne Village Apartments, a MHID family property in Moscow, Idaho.
Bencomo is responsible for identifying resident needs, implementing core Resident Services programs and
collecting data to help measure program outcomes. Her background in social work and service coordination
will contribute greatly to the Resident Services including after school programs, finance and health classes
and social and civic activities.
“I am very excited about my position,” said Bencomo. “I look forward to meeting each of the residents and
learning what their challenges or needs are and how I can bring resources to them to fulfill those needs.”
The addition of this talented new staff member will further the quality programs and services
Mercy Housing Idaho provides to our residents each day.
Fall 2009 5
Mercy Housing
COLORADO & SOUTHWEST
www.mercyhousingcolorado.org • www.mercyhousingsouthwest.org
Young residents celebrate summer
with new playground
Mercy Housing staff members and community volunteers helped young
residents of Decatur Place Apartments in Denver, Colo., fully enjoy their
summer vacation by building a new playground. On June 24 volunteers
spent the day replacing the older wooden playground structure with a
new, fun and safe space for kids and their families to enjoy.
Decatur Place Apartments is an affordable housing apartment building
serving single-parent families. The property is home to nearly 300
residents including 190 children in need of a quality, safe place to play.
“We are so grateful to the 50 volunteers that dedicated their
day to helping us improve this much-needed playground,”
said Kurt Kaczor, Resource Development Director for
Mercy Housing Colorado. “The support we receive from the
community is invaluable in helping us improve neighborhoods
and build communities in Colorado.”
Mercy Housing Colorado saved $7,137 in expenses for this
project through the use of 50 volunteers, including a group
from Equity Residential, who generously donated their time
to build this playground.
Special thanks to the following for supporting this project:
Equity Residential, Edgewater Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts,
Allece Christensen, Bear Mountain Carpet Cleaning and
Heip Nguyen.
Deputy Secretary of HUD visits
Mercy Housing Southwest property
Mercy Housing Southwest
Elderly.” The purpose of the program
recently hosted a property visit for
is to provide low-income seniors with
Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary of U.S.
service-enriched affordable housing
Department of Housing and Urban
that allows them to live independently.
Development (HUD). Sims was
Mercy Housing currently manages
joined by several HUD officials
more than 50 HUD Section 202
from Phoenix and representatives
properties across the country.
from the City of Glendale for a
Mercy Housing seeks to preserve
Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary of HUD,
property tour of Vista Alegre.
visits with Mercy Housing Southwest
community for thousands of seniors
Vista Alegre, a 60-unit property
staff at Vista Alegre in Glendale, Ariz.
who want to age in place near the
located in Glendale, Ariz., is home
friends
and
families
they know. This includes offering
to 69 seniors who make an annual median income of
seniors
health
and
wellness
programs so they can stay
less than $10,200.
mentally and physically active.
As the Deputy Secretary of HUD, Sims is responsible
for managing HUD’s day-to-day operations, the annual “We are pleased that Deputy Secretary Sims visited
operating budget of nearly $39 billion and HUD’s 8,500
Vista Alegre during his time in Arizona,” said Lena Kelly,
employees. Sims was not only impressed by the
Mercy Housing Southwest Regional Director of Resource
appearance of the property, but was impressed by the Development and Resident Services. “It is so important
variety of services offered to the senior residents.
for government officials to understand first-hand the
Vista Alegre was built through a HUD-funded program
called “Section 202: Supportive Housing for the
importance of our work and the services we provide to
residents each day.”
Mercy Housing Colorado receives grants from
Adolph Coors Foundation and the Daniels Fund
Community volunteers build a new playground
for kids at Mercy Housing Colorado’s
Decatur Place Apartments in Denver.
6 Fall 2009
Mercy Housing Colorado has received a $10,000 grant
from the Adolph Coors Foundation and a $25,000 grant
from the Daniels Fund. Both grants will support resident
programs for low- to moderate-income adult and
youth affordable housing residents. Mercy Housing
Colorado offers its residents free, on-site programs
to develop healthy communities where residents can
reach their full potential through education programs,
economic development tools, health and well-being
resources and community engagement opportunities.
is bolstered by resident programs that help people to
stabilize their lives and strengthen local communities.
The demand for affordable housing has intensified and
Mercy Housing is filling this critical need. According to
the Center for Housing Policy, the number of working
family renters paying more than half of their income
for housing grew 103 percent from 1997 to 2005.
Mercy Housing’s nationwide effort to provide more
affordable housing opportunities to meet this need
“We are honored to receive these generous awards
from these outstanding organizations,” said Jennifer
Erixon, Mercy Housing Colorado President. “Mercy
Housing Colorado is thankful they share in our mission
to provide educational resident service programs to
those who need it most, and this award will help expand
Mercy Housing Colorado’s efforts to do just that.”
The Adolph Coors Foundation is a private family
foundation that believes in the importance of selfsufficiency, job training, one-on-one mentoring,
character building, volunteerism and encouraging
philanthropy. The Daniels Fund was established by
Bill Daniels, a pioneer in cable television known
for his kindness and generosity to those in need.
Mercy Housing Colorado
1999 Broadway, Ste 1000
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303.830.3300
Mercy Housing Southwest
PMB 256
4802 E. Ray Road, Suite 23
Phoenix, AZ 85044
Phone: 602.952.9525
2nd Annual
Miracle of
Housing
Breakfast
Mercy Housing Colorado
is excited to host its
second annual Miracle
of Housing Breakfast.
Last year’s event raised
more than $50,000 for
much needed affordable
housing and Resident
Services.
This year, the breakfast
will be held on November
5 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30
a.m. at Mile High Station
in Denver. The event
will feature a video
highlighting Mercy
Housing Colorado’s
communities and programs
and a testimonial from one
of the residents.
Help support Mercy
Housing Colorado and
reserve your spot today!
For more information,
please contact
Sarena Bonora at
(303) 830-3363 or
sbonora@
mercyhousing.org.
Fall 2009 7
Mercy Housing
LAKEFRONT
Mercy Housing Lakefront
gains ground on new developments
On September 14th, Mercy Housing Lakefront
(MHL) celebrated the groundbreaking and the
close of financing for the new Countryside
Senior Apartments in Countryside, Ill. This
four-story, 59,000 square foot apartment
building will be home to more than 70 residents
55 years of age and older who earn less than
80 percent of the area median income.
“For seniors, housing not only serves as a
shelter, but also provides a sense of comfort
and security and can greatly enhance their
quality of life,” said Cindy Holler, Mercy
Housing Lakefront President. “Many seniors
face serious housing problems due to poor
housing quality and design, the lack of
affordable units and even predatory lending.”
Moving forward together
Our nation’s current economic conditions have made
it difficult for nonprofit organizations to meet growing
community needs for 2009. Mercy Housing Lakefront
(MHL) is projecting a 20 percent decline in government
services and philanthropic funding.
Despite this challenge, MHL continues to play a central
role in Chicago and Milwaukee’s efforts to recover from
the housing crisis and economic recession. MHL and
Mercy Portfolio Services are working with government,
private business and the philanthropic community to
leverage approximately $1 billion in community
investments to:
• Preserve and build 5,000 affordable homes and apartments for workers, seniors and the homeless;
• Purchase, rehab and reoccupy thousands of vacant homes in Chicago and Kane County; and
A rendering of the new Countryside Senior Apartments in Countryside, Ill.
This $16 million property is being developed in
partnership with IFF, a Chicago-based nonprofit community
development financial institution. Bank of America is providing over
$8 million in equity and a $5.5 million construction loan. Countryside
Senior Apartments is one of the first Low Income Housing Tax Credit
projects to close in Illinois this year and it will be the first LEED
certified multifamily apartment building developed in Countryside.
This development is being built with the generous support of the
Lyons Township and the Community Memorial Foundation with
additional financing being provided by the Illinois Housing
Development Authority, Cook County Department of Community
Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Other Chicago development highlights include:
• On October 1st, MHL celebrated the completion of rehab construction for the 83-unit Malden Arms Apartments. This $6.5 million rehab is the first project developed as part of MHL’s Preservation Initiative to save 1,757 units of existing affordable housing by 2017.
• Construction continues on the Englewood Apartments, a 99-unit permanent supportive housing facility which is approximately 50 percent complete.
•
www.mercyhousinglakefront.org
• Create hundreds of jobs by partnering with The Cara Program to launch Cleanslate Property
Services to protect and maintain vacant foreclosed homes.
Current Area Challenges
Chicago
• July 2009 unemployment was 11.3%.
• Monthly foreclosure rates increased 63% between July 2008 and July 2009.
• 12,525 Chicago students were homeless during
the 2008 – 2009 school year.
Milwaukee
• July 2009 unemployment rate was 9.5%.
• Monthly foreclosure rates increased 52% between July 2008 and July 2009.
• 2,771 Milwaukee students were homeless during the 2008-2009 school year.
MHL leaders learn tools for change
Ready for change in state and local policies, 30 tenant leaders from four area
Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL) properties gathered on August 27 at the
Margot and Harold Schiff Residences in Chicago to attend an advocacy
workshop presented by Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter.
The workshop, entitled “How to Advocate with your Legislator,” was
developed as part of a long-term, ongoing resident commitment to civic
participation through Mercy Housing Lakefront’s Tenant Leadership Project.
The Tenant Leadership Project is one of many supportive services
offered in MHL’s permanent supportive housing. This project strives to
re-engage formerly homeless residents in civic and community life
through leadership skill development, voter education and
neighborhood improvements.
Construction continues on the Englewood
Apartments, a new supportive housing
property in Chicago.
Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter
(seated, center) and members of the Tenant
Leadership Project
120 S. LaSalle
Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312.447.4500
Thanks to
our funders
Mercy Housing Lakefront
would like to thank our most
recent donors for supporting
the work we do every day.
Individual Donors:
Susan L. Arnesen
Howell S. Baum
Sarah Belinski
Royal Berg
Renton K. Brodie
John R. Burgis
Ann K. Carr
John Chianelli
Alex Darragh
J.F. Franzese
John J. Goodman
Michael F. Hughes
Robert Huston
Kenneth R. Krauss
Charles Lamar
Annika Little
Tom McSwiggin
Rita Meltzer
Norman J. Patinkin
Alan M. Poplawski
Dave Schaewe
Judy Snook
Sylvia Sorkin
Patrick Sullivan
Michael Toolis
Mary White Vasys
Mary E. Vihon
Scott Wentworth
John T. Zick
Organizations:
Residents listen to Sen. Hunter’s
advocacy workshop
Residents first met Sen. Hunter while working on affordable housing issues earlier this spring. Sen. Hunter visited
the Schiff Residences to gain a better understanding of the need for state funding for permanent supportive
housing. She promised to return to help MHL Tenant Leadership Project participants develop the tools needed to
make an impact on state legislation.
Mercy Housing Lakefront has been chosen to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Green Retrofit Program for the Washington Courts and Lavergne Courts. Utilizing stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this program can provide up to $15,000 in capital per unit to make substantial energy conservation retrofits.
8 Mercy Housing
Continuous support from partners is crucial to enable
us to move forward together to catalyze the housing
market and build a vibrant future for our residents.
Mercy Housing Lakefront
The knowledge gained from the workshop will be put into action by
the residents during the fall veto session of the Illinois legislature and
during next year’s state budget negotiations.
Ascher Brothers Co., Inc.
Convent of the Holy Spirit
Follett Higher Education Group
Hill Mechanical Group
Inland Power Group
Parenti & Raffaelli, Ltd.
Patrick and Anna M. Cudahy Fund
Provena – Northern Illinois Region
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Sisters of Mercy, Chicago
Superior Mechanical Systems, Inc.
The Rise Group
The Siragusa Foundation
U.S. Bank
W.P. and H.B. White Foundation
Wells Fargo
Fall 2009 9
Mercy Housing
SOUTHEAST
Teen Leadership Program
helps residents shine
from the inside out
After being expelled from two high schools over a three-month
period and dealing with a difficult family situation, Rashamel
Davis decided he wanted to prove to himself that he could
move past his mistakes and learn to make positive choices.
Rashamel moved in with his uncle and became a part of Mercy
Housing Southeast’s Heritage Place and Heritage Corner &
Heritage Row community in Savannah, Ga. Heritage Place
and Heritage Corner & Heritage Row are three unique family
properties in the same neighborhood. The properties share a
community center and offer resident services to more than
345 residents, including more than 50 teenagers.
After moving to the neighborhood, Rashamel joined the
Inside-Out Teen Leadership Program created by a group of
teenage residents and surrounding community members. The
program serves low-income teens including high-school drop
outs, juvenile offenders and formerly homeless teens. The
program meets in the Heritage Place Community Center twice
per month. At the meetings, teens are encouraged to develop
internal leadership qualities and participate in community
service projects around the neighborhood.
“It is a great program allowing the teens to verbally and
physically express who they are and most importantly what
they desire to become,” said Paula Gwynn Grant, Mercy
Housing Southeast Regional Director of Resource Development
Welcome Home!
Mercy Housing Southeast residents can be one step closer to
achieving their dream of homeownership thanks to the Welcome
Home homeownership education program at the Villages of East
Lake Apartments in Atlanta, Ga.
The Welcome Home program is part of the Individual
Development Account program (IDA), which allows
people to create savings accounts that can only
be used for specific reasons including purchasing
a first home. Accounts are held at local financial
10 Mercy Housing
Summer day trips provide
learning, fun for MHSE residents
Summer provides the perfect opportunity to take
advantage of local outdoor attractions. Heritage Place,
Heritage Corner & Heritage Row and Mulberry Court
residents were able to enjoy the outdoors this summer
through programs provided by Resident Services at
their communities.
On July 22, the Heritage Place and Heritage Corner &
Heritage Row Continual Learning Summer Camp took a
field trip to Dolphin Tours in Savannah, Ga. More than
50 campers learned fun facts about dolphins and spent
time in a boat spotting the dolphins surfacing to catch
fish or take a breath. Dolphin Tours provided a
generous discount on tickets, making the adventure
possible for the young residents.
Rashamel Davis, member of the Inside-Out Teen Leadership
Program in Savannah, Ga.
and Marketing. “We empower them and teach the teens that they are
responsible for their own lives.”
This program is especially important for teenagers like Rashamel who
need a positive, supportive environment. Rashamel is now surrounded
by people that challenge him to do well. Since joining the program, he
has gone back to school and regularly volunteers in the neighborhood.
Rashamel is taking all the necessary steps to stabilize and improve his
life and make a positive impact in his community.
institutions and contributions by lower income participants are often
matched through both public and private sources.
The Welcome Home program includes a series of six-hour informational
workshops and support from a trained Consumer Credit Counseling
Services financial counselor. The Villages of East Lake
has also created partnerships with local real estate
agents to assist potential homeowners in finding the
perfect home. The program is free and available to all
residents and surrounding community members.
Mercy Housing Southeast
www.mercyhousingsoutheast.org
“The kids had a wonderful time and were able to tell us
all about the different things they learned about
dolphins,” said Fallon Harris, Mercy Housing Southeast
Resident Services Coordinator. “We look forward to
taking a Dolphin Tours field trip every summer.”
Heritage Place, an 88-unit family property, is home to
174 residents. Heritage Corner & Heritage Row, a
70-unit family property, is home to 171 residents.
Young residents enjoy outdoor fun
Residents of Mulberry Court Apartments in
Greenville, S.C., traveled to Discovery Island
Waterpark in Simpsonville, S.C. on August 1.
Tickets were donated by Greenville Parks and
Recreation, and children and adults alike had fun
all day long. Enjoying the Colossal Water Tube
Slide, the Lazy Day Lagoon and the waterfalls and
geysers, residents spent the day playing in the
water and enjoying the sun. Transportation was
provided by Senior Solutions.
Mulberry Court Apartments, a 42-unit multifamily
property, is home to more than 60 residents.
621 North Avenue
Suite A-150
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404.873.3887
With heartfelt thanks
Mercy Housing Southeast
would like to express our
sincerest gratitude to all of our
big-hearted donors. Your
generosity enables us to
create healthy, vibrant
communities filled with
residents enjoying dignity,
opportunity and hope, and
means a great deal to those
whose lives are enriched by
the impact of affordable
housing and supportive
services, like health care,
after-school programs and
life skills training.
Your support makes it possible
for Mercy Housing Southeast
to provide homes for more
than 4,000 people who make
an average annual income
of $15,800.
We couldn’t do any of this
without you. It is with heartfelt
thanks that we celebrate our
donors for your selflessness
and support.
New developments
and renovations underway
In these difficult economic times it is even more important for organizations like Mercy Housing to
make opportunities available for families, seniors and people with special needs. To meet the
growing need for quality affordable housing, Mercy Housing Southeast is working hard to build
new housing and renovate existing housing to provide options to those who cannot afford the high
cost of market-rate rental housing. Two Mercy Housing Southeast development highlights include:
The Hills at Fairington Apartments in
Lithonia, Ga.
• The Terraces at Parkview Apartments is a newly constructed one, two and three bedroom family property
in Lithonia, Ga. 90 families in the metro Atlanta community will be able to call these new apartments home
in November.
• The Hills at Fairington Apartments is a renovated one, two and three bedroom multifamily property in
Lithonia, Ga. This property, originally built in the 1980s, will include 406 apartments, a new community
center, playgrounds and a swimming pool. This property will be open by Summer 2010.
Fall 2009 11
I NTERCOMMUNITY
Mercy Housing
www.intercommunitymercyhousing.org
IMH and Equity Residential team up
for a clean-up blitz at local properties
As part of the five-year partnership established between Mercy
Housing and Equity Residential, 30 Intercommunity Mercy Housing
(IMH) and Equity Residential volunteers came together on July 31 to
clean up the Cedarwood I and IV communities in Everett, Wash. In
addition to volunteers, Equity Residential provided equipment including
pressure washers, a parking lot striper and hand tools. They also
provided a barbeque lunch for all the volunteers.
Three other local vendors, Evergreen Tree Service, Mr. Moss and
ICI Paint donated services and materials for the day. Evergreen
Tree Service trimmed trees and hauled away debris. Mr. Moss
cleaned all the roofs including gutters and downspouts. ICI Paint
provided 40 gallons of paint to repaint parking lots and curbs.
With the help of all the volunteers and vendors, Cedarwood I and
IV received much-needed repairs that would normally have taken
months to complete. Sidewalks, decks and siding were pressure
washed; parking lots were re-striped; light poles and fixtures were
painted and repaired; trees were trimmed; and bark and plants were
installed to beautify the area.
“We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate with
Equity on this project and are deeply grateful for their generous
Washington residents spend the Night Out
On August 4, several Intercommunity Mercy
Housing properties throughout the state of
Washington participated in the 26th annual
National Night Out. National Night Out is a
unique crime and drug prevention event
sponsored by the National Association of Town
Watch. The event is designed to heighten crime
and drug prevention awareness, generate
support for, and participation in, local anticrime
programs and strengthen neighborhood spirit
and police-community partnerships.
Volunteers
clean up
Cedarwood
I and IV
in Everett,
Wash.
assistance,” said Suzanne Koval, Regional
Property Supervisor for Intercommunity Mercy
Housing. “This property clearly had significant need and the residents
truly deserve the improvements to their homes that this partnership
between our two companies provided.”
Cedarwood I and IV both serve low-income families in Snohomish
County. Cedarwood I has 30 units and Cedarwood IV has 38 units.
The residents of both communities have taken an active role in
maintaining and improving the properties. Because of their work and
the improvements made during the clean-up blitz, residents will be
able to enjoy their communities for years to come.
Residents at 10 properties enjoyed a variety of
activities including picnics, barbeques, block
parties and ice cream socials. For example, at
Eliza McCabe in Tacoma, residents enjoyed a
barbeque, face painting, presentations from
local officials and visits from the local fire and
police departments.
“This event provided our residents with an excellent
opportunity to connect with the people in their
surrounding neighborhoods,” said Katie Parker,
Intercommunity Mercy Housing Resident Services
Director. “We are always encouraging our residents to
“It is important to give residents the opportunity to acquire the skills
they need to improve their lives and their families’ futures,” said
Cynthia Parker, IMH President. “Our Resident Services team works
hard to meet educational needs in the communities we serve.”
In the spirit of these efforts, IMH recently hosted a backpack drive for
family properties throughout the state of Washington. The drive
12 Mercy Housing
collected more than 650 backpacks and school supplies that were
distributed to young residents in need.
“Many of our families are coming from
homelessness or can only find part-time
employment and simply do not have the money to
purchase school supplies,” said Katie Parker,
Intercommunity Mercy Housing Resident Services
Director. “We wanted to make sure that the lack of
supplies didn’t prevent resident youth from having
a quality educational experience.”
Another recent example of IMH skill-building
occurred at Hillside Gardens in Tacoma, Wash.
The property’s popular ESL class recently hosted a
dinner designed to engage the ESL learners in
Young residents receive
backpacks filled with
school supplies from
Intercommunity Mercy
Housing’s annual
backpack drive.
2505 Third Avenue,
Suite 204
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206.463.5858
Annual
Fundraising
Event: Building
a Future for
Others
Young residents in Washington celebrate National Night Out
find positive ways to actively participate in making
their community stronger.”
Across the United States, Mercy Housing builds
developments that are designed to give people a
safe home in a community they can rely on. Mercy
Housing works with communities to create properties
that benefit the neighborhood and lead to stability for
not only our residents, but the surrounding community.
Building a future through educational programs
Intercommunity Mercy Housing (IMH) takes pride in providing as many
educational opportunities to our residents as possible. The Resident
Services education model focuses on providing programs that allow
residents to build and enhance life skills. In addition to providing youth
educational development through after school programming,
Intercommunity Mercy Housing offers skill-building services for adults
including programs for English as a Second Language (ESL), financial
education and job preparation.
Intercommunity
Mercy Housing
The Intercommunity Mercy
Housing Board of Directors
is hosting a fundraising
breakfast on Friday,
October 30 to bring
together those who believe
in the power of our mission
to build a better future for
our neighbors.
Join us for an opportunity
to support our work to
provide safe and stable
neighborhoods in
Washington. The breakfast
will feature a short
program highlighting
IMH communities and
services, remarks from
IMH President Cynthia
Parker and a testimonial
from a current resident.
Building a Future Breakfast
typical conversations heard
around the dinner table.
Community members were
invited to participate and
the ESL students were given
a list of questions commonly
asked around the dinner
table to ask the community
members.
Intercommunity Mercy Housing
Resident Services
program results
January 2009 – July 2009
Tacoma community members
help ESL residents with English
conversation skills over dinner.
• 61% of Intercommunity Mercy Housing residents are participating in some type of resident service program.
•
“We had many great guests from the community including the Dean of Academics from Bates College and principals and teachers from the Tacoma School District,” said Tan Lam, Resident Services
Coordinator at Hillside Gardens. “This was a great networking and
•
dining experience. Many of these people will come back and help
our residents in the future.”
39% of residents at IMH properties with
services are attending programs that are providing skill-building opportunities in the areas of life skills, job readiness and/or
financial education.
49% of the residents attending life skills and job readiness programs are showing measurable increases of knowledge.
Friday, October 30
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
The Harbor Club in Seattle
To reserve your spot or
learn about table
sponsorship opportunities,
please contact
Paul Chiocco at
(206) 838-5700, x12
or pchiocco@
mercyhousing.org.
Fall 2009 13
Mercy Housing
C alifornia
Catholic Healthcare West and MHC
provide Health & Wellness Program
Thanks to Mercy Housing’s partnership
with Catholic Healthcare West (CHW),
Mercy Housing California (MHC)
residents will have access to 10
cholesterol and blood pressure health
screenings in Sacramento, Calif.
& Vascular Institute. “We feel these
screenings provide vital cardiovascular
education and link to primary care/vascular
program health care access information
to this disproportionate unmet health
needs population.”
Since 1998, Mercy Housing has worked
with our nine Strategic Health Care
Partners to increase access to affordable
housing and health care in the
communities we serve. (To read more
about Mercy Housing’s Strategic Health
Care Partnerships, please see page 2.)
Health screenings have been held at
Kennedy Estates, Crossroads Gardens,
Lance Apartments, Serna Village, Ardenaire
Apartments, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Village and Quinn Cottages and 187
residents have participated. Additional
health screenings will be conducted
through the end of 2009 at Village Park
Apartments, St. Francis Terrace and
Russell Manor.
MHC is collaborating with CHW’s Mercy General Hospital, the
Mercy Heart & Vascular Institute and the CHW Cardiovascular
Disease Management Community Partnership to build upon the
success of three health screenings conducted last fall at
properties in Sacramento. This year, as many as 250 residents
are expected to take part in the scheduled screenings at 10
separate properties in the Sacramento area.
“We are thrilled to be participating in this unique community
partnership opportunity,” said Joyce Higley, Director, Mercy Heart
“Mercy Housing California is deeply
grateful for this extraordinary and
Resident receives blood pressure
important contribution from CHW,”
health screening.
said Jane Graf, Mercy Housing
California President. “It will greatly benefit the health and wellness of
our family and senior residents in the Sacramento area.”
MHC helps create a safe space for seniors
Abused and neglected seniors in Sacramento now have a muchneeded safe haven at a new shelter developed by Mercy Housing
California (MHC). On July 23, MHC and the Sacramento community
celebrated the dedication of the Sacramento Senior Safe House, a
six-bedroom property that provides quality,
temporary housing to seniors age 62 and older.
Seniors in need of emergency shelter can stay at
the facility for up to 90 days. The 4,783 square foot
resident facility is the first of its kind west of the
Mississippi River, and features senior-created
original art and handmade quilts for each bed.
In 2009, more than 90,000 suspected cases of elder abuse were
filed with the State of California. Each month, Sacramento County
Adult Protective Services receives approximately 450 calls
reporting abuse or neglect of a senior.
14 Mercy Housing
“It is a privilege to help serve an often overlooked population by
providing seniors with a welcoming, caring environment,” said Greg
Sparks, Mercy Housing California Vice President. “There are only a few
other facilities like this in the country and we appreciate being a part of
this unique opportunity.”
The partner organizations Mercy Housing California
collaborated with to make this property possible include
the Sacramento Senior Safe House Board of Directors,
Volunteers of America, Lennar Homes, HomeAid
Sacramento, and the North State Building Industry
Association. The shelter will be operated by Volunteers
of America and seniors will be referred to the shelter
through Sacramento County’s Adult Protective Services division.
Funding for the Sacramento Senior Safe House will be 100 percent
supported by the generosity of the community.
www.mercyhousingcalifornia.org
Daughters of Charity and MHC
dedicate St. Vincent’s Gardens
and Villa Caridad
On September 30, the Daughters
of Charity at St. Vincent’s in Santa
Barbara, Calif., and Mercy Housing
California (MHC) celebrated the
dedication of St. Vincent’s Gardens
and Villa Caridad, two new beautiful
affordable housing communities
on the St. Vincent’s campus.
St. Vincent’s Gardens features
75 affordable apartment homes
for individuals and families. Villa
Caridad features 95 affordable
apartment homes for seniors.
California Regional Offices
1360 Mission St. Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415.355.7100
3120 Freeboard Dr. Suite 202
West Sacramento, CA 95691
Phone: 916.414.4400
1500 S. Grand Ave. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213.743.5820
Mission Creek study
proves benefits of stable,
senior housing
Villa Caridad and St. Vincent’s Gardens are the newest additions to
the St. Vincent’s campus in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Developed through a partnership between the
Daughters of Charity and MHC and representing the
largest development in Santa Barbara in over 40
years, the 20-acre site includes outdoor recreation
areas, a small community garden and walking paths
along the restored, federally-protected creek.
The two adjacent properties would not have been
possible without the vision, patience and compassion
of the Daughters of Charity. They first approached
MHC in 1997 to determine the feasibility of an
affordable housing development for families
and seniors on 20 acres of land
that had been owned by the
Daughters of Charity since
the 1850s.
leaders and the local school district. The results of
this collaboration are two outstanding affordable
housing communities that reflect Santa Barbara’s
Mission Revival architectural style – hand trowelfinished stucco, balconies, arched entryways,
red-tile roofs and wrought-iron railings and fences.
“Mercy Housing California earned the faith and
trust of the city through a community outreach
program beyond any I have experienced,”
said David Gustafson, City of Santa Barbara
Community Development Director, now retired.
After meeting with the
Daughters of Charity and the
City of Santa Barbara, MHC
began an intensive community
advisory process that included
elected and appointed city and
county officials, neighborhood
organizations, environmental
groups, other community
For first-time visitors and the
residents who now call St. Vincent’s
Gardens and Villa Caridad home,
these two affordable housing
communities are excellent examples
of what organizations can achieve
when they pull together with a
common goal to provide stable
neighborhoods in their community.
The dedication event was
graciously sponsored by Merritt
Community Capital Corporation.
Please see page 19 for information
about the recent award won by the
St. Vincent’s Affordable Housing
Development.
The San Francisco Department
of Public Health through its
Direct Access to Housing (DAH)
program has provided permanent
supportive housing with services
for more than 1,200 chronically
homeless adults.
MHC’s Mission Creek Senior
Community serves more than
175 residents and was the first
DAH property to provide housing
in a new development exclusively
for seniors. The program released
results from a study following 54
homeless seniors who moved into
Mission Creek between April and
June, 2006. Key results include:
• In the year prior to moving into Mission Creek, two San Francisco hospitals received
an estimated $1.7 million in Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement for services provided to the 54 residents.
In the year after moving in,
the hospitals only received $253,000. This is an average annual cost reduction of $29,000 per person.
Mission Creek has not only
provided formerly homeless
seniors with stability, but has
benefited the community with
significant cost reductions.
For a copy of this study, please
contact info@mercyhousing.org.
Fall 2009 15
N O T E S f r o m the Field
National Lending and Development Consulting
Cabrillo Economic Development
Corporation receives $1.9 million loan
from Mercy Loan Fund to create farm
worker housing in California
Thanks to a $1.9 million loan from Mercy Loan Fund (MLF) to
Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), approximately
290 residents will have quality, affordable housing at Valle Naranjal
in Piru, Calif. Valle Naranjal will provide 66 units of affordable rental
housing to farm worker families at or below 45 percent of the area
median income.
“Mercy Loan Fund is proud to help Cabrillo Economic Development
Corporation reach its goal of bringing affordable housing to farm
worker families in Ventura County,” said Bill Rothman, MLF Loan
Officer. “Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation’s dedication
to its community has been an inspiration to us all. We are grateful
for our partnership with them and organizations like them.”
The Valle Naranjal development is a family rental development
located in the rural Santa Clara Valley and features a large
community center, several recreational play fields, two tot lots
and a community garden.
There are anywhere from 19,000 to 36,000 farm workers in
Ventura County, Calif., but there are less than 1,000 affordable
housing units available to them. The shortage of affordable
housing has forced many farm workers and their families to live
in rundown or overcrowded units.
“Working with Mercy Loan Fund, which is an experienced
partner and supports and understands our commitment to the
creation of affordable homes in Ventura County,” said Nicole
Norori, CEDC Project Manager. “It will allow us to meet our loan
deadline in a timely manner and continue to move this farm
worker housing development forward, especially during these
uncertain economic times.”
A Closer Look at Condominium De Las Marias
When a group of residents in Washington,
D.C., faced the condemnation of their
apartment building and a landlord who
wanted to convert the building into market
rate condominiums, the residents realized
their full potential to empower themselves
and gain control of their future.
In 2003, Mercy Loan Fund provided a
$1.4 million loan to the nonprofit tenant
association to finance the acquisition of this
1926-built Condominium De Las Marias and
complete an extensive renovation. Originally
Congressional staff members take a
twenty-eight of the 50 units were pre-sold to
tour of Condominium De Las Marias, a
tenant-association members, all of whom are property in Washington, D.C., financed
first time homebuyers, at prices affordable to by the Mercy Loan Fund.
families at 20 percent to 50 percent of the
area median income (AMI). The remaining 22 units were sold to families below 80
percent of AMI. The District of Columbia also provided the new homeowners with
deep-subsidy down payment or closing cost assistance and homebuyer counseling.
16 Mercy Housing
National Lending and
Development Consulting
Offices
Two Mercy Housing consulting
properties win housing awards
in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency recently
announced the winners of their 2009 Apex Awards.
Eight organizations and one individual were
honored in eight categories for their contributions
and commitment to affordable housing in Oklahoma.
Two of the properties selected were developed in
partnership with Mercy Housing’s National
Development Consulting division. The consulting
division of Mercy Housing strengthens communities
seniors in the small community. The $3.5 million
project was developed by the Great Plains
Improvement Foundation, Inc. in partnership
with Mercy Housing. The property consists of
24 two and three-bedroom apartments for
families and seniors and a community center.
The 2009 Apex Award for the Housing
Revitalization category went to the Villanova
Apartments located in Lawton, Okla. Built in
1978, Columbia Square
Apartments was left
deteriorated. In 2005, the
property participated in
HUD’s Mark-to-Market
Green Initiative and
underwent a substantial
rehabilitation that
incorporated environmentallyThe Villanova Apartments in Lawton, Okla., before and after rehabilitation.
friendly and energy-efficient
features. Renamed the Villanova Apartments,
and improves the lives of people with low incomes
the completed property consists of 64 units for
by providing capital and expertise in housing
families and has become the cornerstone of the
development and finance to organizations with
Lawton
Revitalization Zone.
similar goals. This division works directly with
clients to complete feasibility studies, opportunity
assessments and master plans for affordable
housing developments. The work includes
development of a wide range of housing, including
multi-use permanent supportive housing, special
needs housing, senior housing, family housing and
assessments of hospital campuses to define
alternative housing options.
1101 30th Street NW
Suite 250
Washington, DC 20007
202.495.7402
Mercy Loan Fund
1999 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80202
303.830.3386
www.mercyloanfund.org
National Development
Services
1999 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80208
303.830.3300
“We provide clients with the expertise they need to
achieve their development goals,” said Chris Nervig,
Mercy Housing Senior Project Developer.
National Lending and Development Consulting
President Julie Gould and the staff at
Condominium De Las Marias in Washington, D.C.
The 2009 Apex Award for the Rental Housing
category went to the Fletcher Northtown
Apartments, located in Fletcher, Okla. This property
provides much needed housing for families and
Fletcher Northtown Apartments in Fletcher, Okla.
Fall 2009 17
Keys to Mercy Housing
STAFF Spotlight
Erixon named 2009 Young Leader
Mercy Housing is pleased to announce
that Regional President Jennifer Erixon
was recently honored by Affordable
Housing Finance magazine as one of their
2009 Young Leaders.
Affordable Housing Magazine selected
12 hardworking and dedicated individuals
who are among the next generation of
affordable housing and community
development leaders. Erixon was also
recently profiled in the Denver Business
Journal for being a young professional
making an impact on her industry.
Mercy Housing Colorado President
Jennifer Erixon speaking at the
opening of the Aromor Apartments
in Denver
Jennifer Erixon’s career in affordable housing began at Mercy
Housing in 1997, when she worked as a project assistant in the
multi-family housing division of Mercy Housing Colorado.
From 1999 to 2003, Erixon served as the Vice President and Team
Leader at PNC Multifamily Capital in Oregon where she was
responsible for negotiating, structuring and closing more than
$125 million of equity investments used in the development of
2,000 affordable multi-family homes in 10 states.
Mercy Housing honored by
Affordable Housing Finance
In 2003, Erixon accepted a position with Capmark
Securities, Inc., in Denver. She served as the Vice
President/Director of Capital Markets and was
responsible for directing investor sales and the due
diligence process for the company’s affordable
housing platform.
In recognition of her outstanding service and dedication,
Affordable Housing Finance magazine has inducted Sister
Lillian Murphy, RSM, Mercy Housing CEO, into the magazine’s
Affordable Housing Fall of Fame. Murphy was one of five
inductees selected to received this honor.
Then in 2007, Erixon was given the opportunity to
return to Mercy Housing to serve as President
of Mercy Housing Colorado. Over the past two
years, her responsibilities have expanded to
include leading regional operations in Arizona
and Nebraska.
She is a national spokesperson for the cause of affordable
housing and the needs of people who are economically poor.
Murphy has been CEO of Mercy Housing since 1987. Under her
leadership, Mercy Housing has grown to become an awardwinning, national, not-for-profit housing organization with a
presence in 203 cities, 41 states serving more than 124,000
people in more than 36,900 quality, affordable homes.
“I feel lucky to have found my way back to Mercy
Housing,” said Erixon. “The team at Mercy Housing is so incredibly
dedicated and focused on addressing the housing needs of our
country’s poorest residents. I cannot imagine more important or
rewarding work.”
Erixon is a fourth generation Coloradan and lives in Denver with her
husband and 7-year-old daughter. She attended Vassar College and
the University of Colorado at Denver where she graduated summa
cum laude. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
Bring someone home in 2009
This year as we have celebrated the ‘keys to hope’ you and others like you have provided
to our residents, we have also seen the need for affordable, program-enriched housing
increase substantially. As many families and individuals face loss of jobs and housing in
2009, you have an opportunity to bring someone home to a Mercy Housing community
where they can rebuild their lives.
For low-income families, seniors and people with special needs, many cannot imagine
having a quality, affordable place to live. Your donation can provide these individuals
with not only a place to live but also a place to belong. As we use your gift to develop
affordable housing and provide our onsite, resident programs which include employment
support, financial education, after-school tutoring, health classes and much more, you
allow us to build stable, vibrant and healthy communities.
To make a donation to bring someone home in 2009, please visit www.mercyhousing.org/give.
Thank you for continuing to support Mercy Housing.
18 Mercy Housing
grants & Announcements
Additionally, St. Vincent’s Affordable Housing Development,
two Mercy Housing California properties – St. Vincent’s
Gardens and Villa Caridad – located in Santa Barbara, Calif.,
were chosen as the winner in the Master-Planned/Mixed-Use
category in Affordable Housing Finance’s 2009 Readers Choice
Awards for the nation’s best affordable housing developments.
St. Vincent’s was one of only 35 projects from across the
St. Vincent’s Affordable Housing Development in Santa Barbara,
Calif., Affordable Housing Finance 2009 Readers Choice Winner
country selected as a finalist. It was nominated for the MasterPlanned/Mixed-Use category as well as for the Best Overall
Development category. The two properties total 170 units of
affordable housing for low- to moderate-income families and
seniors. (To read more about St. Vincent’s Affordable Housing
Development, please see page 15.)
Mercy Housing receives grant
from The Walmart Foundation to support
Environmental Stewardship Initiative
Mercy Housing will use $376,750 in grant funding
from The Walmart Foundation to launch a
nationwide effort to improve the use of energy at
its existing affordable housing properties and require developers to
use a variety of “green” design elements in all future properties.
Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart
Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in
education, workforce development, economic opportunity,
environmental sustainability and health and wellness.
The grant will supplement government and other philanthropic
funding to help Mercy Housing launch a nationwide Environmental
Stewardship Initiative. Mercy Housing will use $296,750 from the grant
to conduct internal and third-party energy audits at 233 properties
and implement a sustainable development policy. The remaining
$80,000 will be divided among Mercy Housing’s eight regional offices
for local implementation.
“Wal-Mart is a respected leader in environmental
stewardship, and we are so pleased to have The
Walmart Foundation support us in this important
initiative,” said Sister Lillian Murphy, RSM, Mercy Housing CEO.
Many studies have shown that dilapidated housing is associated with
exposure to lead and asthma triggers, such as mold, moisture, dust
mites and rodents. High energy costs also greatly affect low-income
households. The 2005 National Energy Assistance Survey found that as
a result of high energy costs, 47 percent of households receiving
federal home energy assistance went without medical care, 25 percent
failed to pay their rent or mortgage and 20 percent went without food
for at least one day over a five-year period.
“The Walmart Foundation is proud to support Mercy Housing and
others who share our commitment to protecting the environment for
generations,” said Walmart Foundation President Margaret McKenna.
Fall 2009 19
Keys to Mercy Housing
R es i d ent s p ot l i g h t
Carolyn Walker
Inside Carolyn’s Closet
Whether she’s preparing and serving dinner at Evergreen
Vista’s monthly resident meeting, organizing an outreach
program or helping new residents get involved with the
services their community has to offer,
Carolyn Walker is always busy.
The Evergreen Vista neighborhood is
home to more than 475 residents in
Olympia, Wash. Carolyn and many other
individuals and families living at
Evergreen Vista were at one point
homeless, coming to the property with
as little as the clothing on their back.
“Homelessness is a test I do not wish on anybody,” said Carolyn.
“Unless you’ve been through it, you just can’t understand.”
It is exactly that understanding combined with her big heart and
giving spirit that gave Carolyn the inspiration to get involved with
Evergreen Vista’s house wares and furniture donation bank. The
To receive the latest updates and news from
Mercy Housing, visit www.mercyhousing.org
and sign up for our e-mail alerts.
1999 Broadway
Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80202
www.mercyhousing.org
program was started several years ago by Resident Services staff and
community members. Carolyn started running the program in 2003 and
it was given the name Carolyn’s Closet.
Whether a person simply needs a few pots and pans or is starting over
entirely, Carolyn’s Closet is a place where people in need can find
anything from kitchenware to a new dresser.
“These people don’t need to justify or explain anything to me, “said
Carolyn. “I already know what they need. I understand.”
Carolyn’s Closet benefits not just those who live in the 156 units in the
Evergreen Vista neighborhood, but the entire surrounding county. All
the items in Carolyn’s Closet have been donated and are available free
of charge to residents and community members in need. Special
consideration is given to people who are making the transition from
homelessness.
“In my mind, the most important quality a person can have is caring
about other people. That is the hallmark of Carolyn,” said Paul Grudis,
Resident Services Coordinator at Evergreen Vista. “She notices other
people’s needs right away.”
Non Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Denver, CO
PERMIT NO. 2856