NEIGHBORHOODS - Mercy Housing

News from our
Neighborhoods
www.mercyhousing.org
Mercy Housing launches
new five year strategic plan
Today, more than one-third of the United States’ populations –
approximately 95 million people – are affected by the housing
crisis. Of these people, more than 45 million have incomes
below $25,000 and roughly 12 million households earn less than
$10,000 per year. And to make matters worse, the demand for
affordable housing continues to exceed the supply. For every
100 extremely low-income renter households, there were
39 rental housing units affordable and available for them in
2007. By 2008, the number of affordable and available units had
declined to 38. The shortage will likely be worse in 2010 marked
by households with extremely low incomes facing an absolute
shortage of affordable rental housing.
In order to respond to this crisis, nearly a year ago, Mercy
Housing embarked upon a thoughtful and collaborative process
to develop the 2010-2014 Strategic Plan. Recently approved by
the Mercy Housing Board of Trustees, the underlying vision for
the plan is to impact the growing gap between the supply and
demand for quality affordable homes for lower- and moderateincome persons while preserving and enhancing the properties
in our portfolio and continuing to emphasize our homes as
platforms for resident success.
Just as the planning process involved numerous Mercy Housing
constituents, so will the Plan’s execution – from the Board of
Trustees to the staff, from the many organizations, corporations
and foundations who generously support Mercy Housing to our
loyal individual donors. The degree to which we are successful
in engaging our communities in these endeavors directly
correlates to our chance of success.
As Mercy Housing moves from constructing the Strategic Plan
to executing the strategies contained within it, the organization
A Publication of
Mercy Housing
Winter '10
Mercy Housing’s strategic priorities and
deliverables have been developed in six major areas:
1.Operating Excellence and Long Term
Financial Stability
2.Stewardship of Existing Property Portfolio
3.Excellence in Resident Services
4.Growth
5.Health Care and Housing Linkages
6.Public Education and Advocacy
will also begin to assess our progress in meeting our goal of 60,000
affordable multifamily rental homes in the United States by 2014.
To reach this bold goal Mercy Housing will:
• Expand into new products, markets and partnerships where we can create sustainable scale through acquisitions and/or new development;
• Finance more work done by others through the Mercy Loan Fund;
• Sustain our focus on providing Resident Services that are
cost-effective and assist our residents to build and lead healthy and productive lives.
As we work to build stable, vibrant and healthy communities,
we look forward to reporting out on our progress on the
2010-2014 Strategic Plan through an extensive benchmark and
reporting model system. If you would like additional details
about Mercy Housing’s 2010-2014 Strategic Plan, please contact
info@mercyhousing.org.
Some of What’s Inside:
• Mercy Housing California opens new family property in San Francisco - page 4
• Two young Mercy Housing Colorado residents featured in gallery show - page 9
• Mercy Housing Lakefront property receives affordable housing award - page 10
• Intercommunity Mercy Housing residents receive employee assistance - page 14
• Citi employees volunteer at Mercy Housing properties - pages 5 & 18
Investing in the future
As we begin a New Year,
the need for quality,
affordable homes for low
and moderate income
persons is increasing every
day. In many respects the
economy is beginning to
turn around, but at the
same time record home
foreclosures are expected
in 2010.
To prepare for the
challenges that face Mercy Housing, we have just completed
a year-long strategic planning process that gives us
direction for the next five years. Even before the ink dried
on this ambitious document, many staff members were
at work implementing portions of it – from developing an
environmental stewardship program which measures our
commitment to environmental sustainability – to leveraging
relationships with our Strategic Health Care Partners to
provide access to care and lower costs for residents.
Mercy Housing welcomes
two new board members
Mercy Housing is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrienne
Crowe and Barbara Kelley to the Mercy Housing’s national Board
of Trustees.
“We welcome Adrienne and Barbara to our already outstanding Board
of Trustees,” said Sister Lillian Murphy, RSM, Mercy Housing Chief
Executive Officer. “They bring a great deal of financial and real estate
knowledge that will be a valuable asset to our organization.”
Adrienne Crowe is a retired executive of Bank of America, where
she spent more than 20 years in a variety of executive roles, most
recently as the Senior Vice President/Regional Vice President for the
Sacramento Regional Commercial Banking Office.
Barbara Kelley is the Executive Director of the Colorado Department
of Regulatory Agencies, appointed by Governor Bill Ritter in November
2009. Previously, she was engaged in a diverse corporate practice as a
partner with the Kamlet Reichert law firm in Denver, CO.
In order to achieve our goals for 2010, Mercy Housing will
need to remain nimble, flexible and focused on our core
businesses and core competencies of multifamily rental
development/finance and operational excellence in property
management and resident services.
These are difficult days for all of us, but we have reason to
be hopeful about achieving success in 2010. Mercy Housing
has a clear vision and mission; committed, competent and
compassionate staff and volunteers, and a well deserved
reputation for producing, preserving, financing and managing
quality, affordable, service-enriched homes for those most in
need. We will continue to build on this reputation throughout
the year and we thank you for your investment in and support
of Mercy Housing’s mission and the work we do to create
healthy and vibrant communities for the residents we serve.
Sincerely,
Sister Lillian Murphy, RSM
Mercy Housing Chief Executive Officer
2 Mercy Housing
Creating a Better World –
Mercy Housing’s
2009 Annual Report
Mercy Housing’s 2009 Annual Report will be available in April.
You can download a copy online at www.mercyhousing.org.
If you would like a copy of this publication mailed to you,
please contact info@mercyhousing.org or call 303.830.3432.
Contents:
Mercy Housing California 4
We have our work
cut out for us!
I am writing to you from the Great State of
California, which quite frankly, most
recently, has not felt so “great”. I was
struck by that phrase coming from some
commentary on NPR on my way to work
the other day and actually had to cringe as
I thought about the decay in all things that
would define “great”.
In 2007, when the bubble
was at its peak, California
spending on elementary and
secondary education was 5.3
percent below the national
average. Today, as we
contemplate a reduction of
$4.3 billion in K-12 spending,
we can only imagine the
outcome. California holds the
distinguished bronze medal
for rates of foreclosure
across the nation, yielding to
the great states of Nevada and Arizona in
that order. Our unemployment rate as of
December was 12.4 percent, only trumped
by South Carolina, Rhode Island, Nevada,
and Michigan in that order. Wow – how
could it go so bad so fast?
We all know someone affected - neighbors
and family members losing their jobs with
no relief in sight or young adults that have
moved back home or simply can’t move
out. Calls for housing referrals come into
our office at rates that far exceed the
supply. Even when we open a new
property, the subsidized rents are more
than many families can afford to pay.
Whole cities are in crisis over the
foreclosures and abandonment of their
neighborhoods. And the gap between the
supply and demand for housing that is
truly affordable to families in need, is
larger than ever.
What does this all mean for Mercy
Housing? We have our work cut out for us,
that’s what it means! Having
just finished our strategic
plan is certainly timely.
We have been living the
“decline” in our communities
as we have been
contemplating our next five
years. When you read the
summary of the plan, I hope
you agree with me that it is
bold. It pushes us to
recognize that, as our CEO
Sister Lillian says, “this is
not business as usual.” Our goals are
ambitious and they need to be because
these are extreme times.
So, stay tuned. We will be asking for your
help. If we know one thing, it is that we
cannot do it alone. All of you, our
collaborators, partners and supporters,
are our best weapons. Get in shape, get
ready, you will be pushed into service!
Jane Graf
President, Mercy Housing California
Mercy Housing Idaho 6
Mercy Housing Colorado and
Southwest 8
Mercy Housing Lakefront 10
Mercy Housing Southeast 12
Intercommunity Mercy
Housing 14
Notes from the Field 16
Volunteer Spotlight 18
Grants & Announcements 19
Resident Spotlight 20
Mercy Housing
Executive Leadership:
Sister Lillian Murphy, RSM, CEO
Brian Shuman, COO/President
Vincent Dodds, CFO
Mercy Housing
Board of Trustees:
Sr. Norita Cooney, RSM
Adrienne Crowe
Sr. Roslyn Hafertepe, SC
Brad James (Chair)
Sr. Rose Marie Jasinski, CBS
Barbara Kelley
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.
Winter 2010 3
Mercy Housing
California
Twelve Story High Rise
Affordable Family Housing Property
Dedicated in San Francisco
On December 9, 2009, Mercy Housing California (MHC) officially
dedicated 10th & Mission Family Housing. Sister Lillian Murphy,
Mercy Housing CEO; Russ Pitto, MHC Board Chair and Jane Graf,
MHC President welcomed elected officials – including San
Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom – financial partners, special
guests and residents to the dedication ceremony and luncheon.
10th & Mission Family Housing is the result of a collaborative
effort by Mercy Housing California, Catholic Charities CYO, the
San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and the San Francisco
Human Services Agency. This striking, new 12-story apartment
building – designed by internationally renowned, award-winning
KMD Architects with Cahill Contractors Inc., as the general
contractor – is located in the Mid-Market neighborhood within the
heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center.
Developed on a former parking lot, the
property consists of 136 units of 1, 2 and
3-bedroom affordable rental housing with
44 apartments designated for formerly
homeless families. The property includes
a 5,400 square foot youth and family
center operated by Catholic Charities
CYO and funded by the San Francisco
Human Services Agency; a dual-level,
secure, open courtyard; and ground floor
neighborhood retail space. The property
is close to services and employment
centers, with easy accessibility to public
transportation.
Numerous green features have been
incorporated into the property which is
adjacent to the Edith Witt Senior
Community. The Edith Witt new Mercy
Housing senior community consists of
107 affordable rental apartments and is
currently under construction and is
scheduled to open in July 2010.
Together Edith Witt Senior Community
and 10th & Mission Family Housing will 10th & Mission Family Housing
form an intergenerational in San Francisco (photo by
Michael O’Callahan)
community in San
Francisco’s Mid Market
community providing a critical and significant
housing resource.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and
Mercy Housing California President Jane Graf
at the dedication ceremony for 10th & Mission
Family Housing
Citi employees partner with Mercy
Housing on volunteer projects during
Citi’s 4th Annual Global Community Day
Numerous Citi employees
around California came
together to volunteer at
Mercy Housing California
(MHC) properties during
Citi’s fourth annual Global
Community Day on Saturday,
November 7, 2009. The day is
an opportunity for thousands
of Citi colleagues and local
community organizations
across the globe to come together to help make a
difference to the communities where they live and
work. This was the first year that both Mercy Housing
Lakefront in Chicago and Mercy Housing California
were invited to participate in this international day of
service (see related article on page 18).
In California, four events were organized for Citi
volunteers: financial literacy classes conducted for
MHC residents at 1500 South Grand Apartments in
Los Angeles and residents of Bermuda Gardens,
Casa Verde and Eden House in San Leandro; the
clean-up, painting and “rehab” of the community
room at Casa San Juan in Oxnard;
and the building of a new
community garden for residents of
St. Vincent’s Gardens and Villa
Caridad in Santa Barbara, where
volunteers and residents were
joined in their efforts by Second
District Santa Barbara County
Supervisor Janet Wolf.
Rashi Kallur, community relations
director for Citibank, was at St. Vincent’s with five
other Citi employees building the first batch of ten
garden boxes. She said teams of Citi volunteers
were participating in 120 projects nationwide for
Global Community Day.
Mercy Housing California hopes to participate in
the 2010 Global Community Day and is deeply
appreciative to Citi Foundation for its generous
annual contributions and to the dozens of Citi
volunteers who helped support MHC and our
Mercy Housing Lakefront colleagues and residents
with their “hands on” efforts this past year.
New MHC Developments
This past fall, Mercy Housing California celebrated the
completion of East Leland Court, 63 new affordable apartment
homes for families in Pittsburg, Calif. This is MHC’s first
affordable housing development in this San Francisco Bay
Area East Bay community. Included in the project was the
construction of a new, second facility for the First Baptist
Head Start and Early Head Start Program. Among the special
guests speaking at the dedication ceremony was Nancy
Parent, Mayor, City of Pittsburg; Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors; and
California State Senator Mark DeSaulnier, Seventh District.
Photo by Keith Baker Photography
4 Mercy Housing
www.mercyhousingcalifornia.org
Mercy Housing California will begin construction on three new affordable
housing communities later this winter and early spring:
• Boulevard Court, Sacramento – renovation and rehab construction of the former Budget Inn into 75 apartments for formerly homeless individuals
• Gleason Park, Stockton – new construction of 93 apartments for families
• Parcel G, San Francisco – new construction of 120 apartments for special needs and formerly homeless individuals being developed in collaboration
with Community Housing Partnership
We look forward to updating you on the progress of these newest MHC
developments in the coming months.
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
Mercy Housing California
welcomes new board
member and staff
MHC is pleased to announce
that Howard Levine, retired
President/CEO for ARCS
Commercial Mortgage Company
in Southern California has joined
the MHC Board of Directors.
Levine is a past member of the
Executive Board of the MBA,
Commercial Board of Governors
for the Mortgage Bankers
Association of America, and is
currently a member of the UCAL
REAG Advisory Board and The
Moriah Society. He lectures at
UCLA and USC Graduate Real
Estate Programs.
MHC is also pleased to
announce the appointment of
Mary Dunbar as Vice President
Resource Development. Dunbar
was previously with Rubicon
Programs Inc., a nonprofit
organization based in Richmond,
CA that is a recognized leader in
the field of social entrepreneurship.
Prior to that, Dunbar worked for
The Commonwealth Club of
California and Glide Memorial in
San Francisco. She is an active
Board member of the Association
of Fundraising Professionals’
Golden Gate Chapter and serves
as Co-chair of the Mentor
Program and an Advisory Board
member of the Chapter’s MultiCultural Alliance Program.
Winter 2010 5
Mercy Housing
IDAHO
Mercy Housing Idaho Offers Computer
Classes for Senior Residents
On December 12, thirteen senior residents from the
Sisters Villa and Eagle Senior Apartments, in Eagle,
Idaho, took their seats in the Sisters Villa computer
lab for what would be their first ever computer
education class.
Girl’s Night Out!
Hawthorne Village in Moscow, Idaho is a property
catering to many families. As such, most Resident
Services available at the property, tend to favor
residents with school-aged children. Recently,
several people between the ages of 40 and 60 without
children have moved to Hawthorne Village. In an
effort to ensure that no one from the property was
excluded from receiving program support, Robin
Olson, Hawthorne Village Resident Services
Coordinator, called a meeting with the residents.
The computer class was intended to be a onetime
tutorial led by a volunteer. When scheduling
challenges for the volunteer and high prices quoted
by professional consultants threatened to cancel
the class, Angelica Garza, Mercy Housing Idaho
Administrative Assistant, just didn’t have the heart
to tell the residents it wasn’t going to happen so
she volunteered to teach it herself.
Many students didn’t even know how to turn on a
computer. Once the students had a handle on the
basics, Garza provided them with a brief overview
of several common computer programs before
walking them through the art of web surfing. She
was surprised to learn that many of the residents
thought they had to pay to surf the web.
www.mercyhousingidaho.org
“I asked them what they wanted to do,” said
Olson.“The residents decided they wanted to get
out and explore the local community.
So we that’s exactly what we did.”
Senior residents from Sisters Villa and Eagle Senior Apartments
gain valuable computer skills
questions they might have been uncomfortable asking a teacher they didn’t know.
In fact, the class was so enjoyable that residents are requesting additional classes
specific to Microsoft Word and email.
“I told them, ‘Oh no. It’s free.’They were thrilled to
hear that,” said Garza.
Garza says that as long as the interest is there, she’ll continue to volunteer her time.
In the end, everyone seemed to agree that things
couldn’t have worked out better. With Garza
leading the class, the residents felt free to ask
“The residents put out their own newsletter every month. It’s typed on someone’s
personal computer and printed off her personal printer,” she said.“Now I think
even more people can be involved with that. Working with the residents every day
is definitely the most rewarding part of my job.”
“We all had a lot of fun,” Olsen said.“One woman
doesn’t have a car and has some trouble walking.
She told me she was just glad to be out on the town
because she so rarely has an opportunity to do that.
Another woman had only been living at the property for
a few weeks, so it was a great opportunity for her to
get to know her neighbors and her community.”
Whether it’s a traditional after-school program or
something specific to her residents’ requests like
her Girl’s Night Out, Olson makes sure there’s
something special for everyone who calls
Hawthorne Village home.
Significant progress was made in 2009 towards purchasing three
affordable housing properties located in Mountain Home, Meridian and
Boise. Predevelopment work has been completed for each of the
6 Mercy Housing
properties, and the purchase is expected to be finalized in May 2010.
Purchasing and rehabilitating these properties will ensure these units are
kept affordable for a long period of time.
MHID has also been approved by the City of Nampa for $1.067 million in
ARRA funds to participate in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
NSP targets neighborhoods that have a substantial amount of foreclosures
and are threatened with severe decline. Through this program MHID will be
able to purchase foreclosed homes from banks at a discounted rate,
Also in 2009, land in downtown Boise was identified as the
potential site for a new senior housing development. The
application for HUD 202 and Idaho Housing and Finance
Mercy Housing Idaho
thanks everyone
involved with making
the 2010 Keys to Hope
Breakfast a success.
Funds raised at the
breakfast will provide
support for the ambitious
year of work ahead in
both Resident Services
and new affordable
housing projects.
Patron Sponsors
Glancey Rockwell
Key Bank
U.S. Bank
Supporter Sponsors
Hawthorne Village in Moscow, Idaho
rehabilitate the properties and sell them to families at or
below 120 percent of the area medium income. Currently,
four offers have been made with a goal of purchasing and
rehabilitating an initial group of seven residential properties
in Nampa.
540 North Eagle Road, #117
Eagle, ID 83616
Phone: 208.939.6838
Special thanks to the
event sponsors:
Olson took three women from
Hawthorne to the Charles R. Conner
Museum, located on the Washington
State University, School of Biological
Sciences Campus. The museum is
home to the largest collection of
mounted birds and mammals in the
Pacific Northwest, boasting over 700
displays. After their excursion, the
foursome enjoyed a little pizza and a
lot of laughs at the local Pizza Hut.
Intermountain
Community Bank
Nampa Family Shelter Coalition
Also thank you to the
breakfast planning
committee:
New projects underway in Idaho’s Treasure Valley
In Idaho’s Treasure Valley, the need for affordable housing continues to
grow as more homes are in foreclosure and existing affordable housing
units are turned into market-rate developments. Mercy Housing Idaho
(MHID) is working hard to buy, develop and rehabilitate several properties
to increase the availability of quality affordable housing in the area.
Mercy Housing Idaho
Association funding has been completed and the outcome
of the application process should be known in Spring 2010.
“Each of these projects is very important to the families
and seniors in Idaho who cannot afford the high cost of
market-rate rental housing” said Craige Naylor, Mercy
Housing Idaho President.“With these new developments
and rehabilitation of existing properties, Mercy Housing
Idaho continues to meet the need for affordable, programenriched housing in the area.”
Ann Alvarez, Linda
Bratnober, Candice Cochran,
Angelica Garza, Craige
Naylor, Jane Pavek,
Samantha Richards and
Cindy Williams
Winter 2010 7
Mercy Housing
C OLORA D O & S O U T H W E S T
www.mercyhousingcolorado.org • www.mercyhousingsouthwest.org
Mercy Housing Colorado says thank
you and farewell to Walt Coughlin
This year, Mercy Housing Colorado will say goodbye to
Board Chairman, Walt Coughlin. Coughlin has served on
the Board of Mercy Housing Colorado for nine years,
total, and served as chair for the past three.
Coughlin works as the Executive Vice President of
Coughlin & Company, Inc, an organization that offers
financing to non-profit organizations all across the
country. Because of his position, he is very aware of just
how many different affordable housing organizations
there are out there.
“I knew about Mercy Housing and the work Mercy
Housing did long before I joined the Board. Mercy
Housing is, really, the gold standard,” says Coughlin.
“Anyone in this industry knows that.”
Coughlin believes that it is Mercy Housing’s commitment
to the Resident Service piece of our mission that really
sets us apart from the rest. Programs like Mercy Housing
Colorado’s Peace Pals, or classes
provided about computers or
personal finance management, for
example, allow Mercy Housing to
improve the lives of residents
and communities.
As Coughlin prepares to step
down, he looks back with pride on
the nine years he spent with
Mercy Housing Colorado and
offers this advice to those who
will come after him.
“We give people opportunities.
Go see, first hand, what Mercy
Housing is doing,” said Coughlin. “Visit the properties; talk to the
staff; talk to the residents; talk to anyone you can. Experience the
reality behind the words in the mission. Because Mercy Housing is
here, these lives are better.”
Third time’s the charm –
Villas De Merced hosts Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance again
For the third year in a row, Mercy Housing Southwest’s family
property, Villas de Merced in Mesa, Ariz., has been chosen as a
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. VITA is a program
that provides free tax preparation for individuals with low to
moderate incomes, senior citizens, non-English speaking persons
and individuals with disabilities. Last year,
this program helped to return $7 million
across the state of Arizona, $92,000 of
which was returned to 82 individuals who
took advantage of this program at the
property. Though many who benefitted
from the service were residents of Villas de
Merced, residency was not a requirement.
“Fliers are posted all around the community, and then people can
come to the property to take advantage of this vital service,” explains
Lena Kelly, Mercy Housing Southwest’s Director of Resident Services.
“Everybody who comes has their taxes done electronically, for free.
Then, in a couple a weeks, you get your refund check in the mail.”
Villa De Merced in Mesa, Ariz.
8 Spring 2010
The Internal Revenue Service seeks out sites
for VITA that are reputable and based within
communities where people will benefit most
from having this program readily available.
“It’s a great opportunity for our residents,”
says Kelly, “But it’s also a great opportunity for
Mercy Housing to give back to the community.”
Mercy Housing Southwest to Participate
in Night Time 2010 Homeless Street Count
Many residents at the Mercy Court Family and Vista
Alegre Senior properties, both run by Mercy Housing
Southwest, have experienced homelessness at one
point or another. They know how challenging that
experience is and how important quality, safe
affordable housing is to one’s ability to develop their
full potential. So when the time came for the 2010
Homeless Street Count to be done in Phoenix, Ariz.,
it was no surprise that four Mercy Housing
Southwest staff persons were eager to volunteer.
After working a twelve hour day, Lena Kelly, Mercy
Housing Southwest Director of Resident Services,
teamed up with Resident Services Coordinators, Bob
Amavisca and Lesli Stern, and Mercy Housing
Southwest’s Administrative Assistant, Laurel Upton. In a
clear example of how Mercy Housing employees live the
mission every day, the foursome joined forces with other
like-minded volunteers for three hours on a January
night to do their part to end homelessness in Phoenix.
“We counted a total of five homeless men just in our
little, residential neighborhood,” said Upton.
Upton previously spent ten years living without a
home of her own and fully understands the effects
of homelessness.
“It’s really a handicap not to have your own kitchen
or even your own little space in the bathroom –
things most people take for granted,” she said.
“I hope this count does help Phoenix get more
money for homelessness assistance programs.
I also hope the count raises awareness of the need
for affordable housing.”
Upton realizes that the homelessness epidemic
plaguing our country today is far too large for any
one non-profit to solve alone, but sees Mercy
Housing as a leader in the movement to end
homelessness.
“I’m so impressed with the work Mercy Housing
does, particularly the Resident Services piece,” she
said.“I’m proud to be a part of Mercy Housing and
was delighted to be able to take part in the count this
year. It’s important work.”
Two young MHCO residents
featured in gallery show
In November, two young residents from Mercy
Housing Colorado’s Grace Apartments in Denver,
were recently given the opportunity to participate in a
gallery show hosted by Denver’s Photo Martini Club.
The Photo Martini Club sponsors monthly gallery
shows based on a topic. The topic for this show
was “The Street.” In addition to allowing two
aspiring photographers to participate in the show,
the artists from the Photo Martini Club donated
a portion of every photo sold to support Resident
Services at Mercy Housing Colorado properties.
Photos by young residents from
MHCO’s Grace Apartments in Denver.
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
Mercy Housing
Colorado
receives $25,000
grant from
Rose Community
Foundation
MHCO has received a
$25,000 grant from Rose
Community Foundation to
support Resident Service
programs for low- to
moderate-income families at
four Denver-area affordable
housing properties. MHCO
offers its residents free,
on-site programs to create
healthy communities where
residents can develop
their full potential through
education programs,
economic development
tools, health and well-being
resources and community
engagement opportunities.
“We are honored to
receive this generous grant
from Rose Community
Foundation,” said Jennifer
Erixon, Mercy Housing
Colorado President.
“We are thankful that
Rose Community Foundation
supports our mission to
provide Resident Service
programs to those who
need it most, and this grant
will help expand Mercy
Housing Colorado’s efforts
to do just that.”
Winter 2010 9
Mercy Housing
LA K E FRON T
Malden Arms Apartments receives
Polk Bros. Foundation Affordable Rental Housing
Preservation Award
Mercy Housing Lakefront’s Malden Arms Apartments was
recently selected by the Chicago Neighborhood Development
Awards (CNDA) for the Polk Bros. Foundation Affordable
Rental Housing Preservation Award. This award recognizes
outstanding achievement for preserving affordable rental
housing at risk of expiring subsidy contracts or physical
deterioration. The Malden Arms was chosen based on
community impact; local resident involvement; ability to meet
local needs and overcome obstacles; creativity in design
and finance; green design; and willingness to share project
lessons with others. The award is $15,000.
The Malden Arms preservation project is an 83-unit supportive
housing property for formerly homeless, low-income,
and disabled individuals located in Chicago’s Uptown
neighborhood. Physical rehabilitation of the Malden Arms
Apartments, built in the 1920’s, was extensive and incorporated
a number of environmentally friendly elements. Energy Star
appliances and energy efficient lighting were installed. Low
flow water fixtures were added, as well as high efficiency water
heaters, boilers, and a reflective membrane on the roof that
reduces its heat island effect. The project was part of a Clinton
Climate Initiative pilot program that will reduce green house gas
emissions by almost 200 tons of carbon dioxide per year –
the equivalent of planting 50 acres of trees.
www.mercyhousinglakefront.org
Moving forward together
Since April 2009, Mercy Housing Lakefront has taken the
lead in bringing together a variety of partners to address
the housing, employment, and foreclosure crisis in the
Chicago and Milwaukee regions.
In October, Mercy Housing Lakefront hosted “Moving
Forward Together” with thought-leaders from the Federal
Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Federal Home Loan Bank
of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, the Center for
Neighborhood Technology, Bank of America, Chicago
Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Metropolitan Planning
Council, City of Chicago Department of Community
Development, the Office of Governor Pat Quinn, and many
others. The event attracted approximately 500 bank, real
estate, government, and philanthropic leaders to discuss
innovative ways to address the crisis through partnerships
as well as honor a number of champions who in 2009, made
a significant difference during this difficult time.
In addition, Mercy Housing Lakefront continues to
collaborate to advance our seven-year goal to build or
preserve 5,000 affordable apartments.
• Construction on the 99-unit Englewood Apartments
is nearing completion.
• In partnership with NHS of Chicago, Mercy Housing Lakefront closed on financing for the
$18 million, 60-unit Roseland Place senior apartments.
• Mercy Housing Lakefront secured WHEDA tax credits, closed financing, and began construction on the $13 million, 91-unit Johnston Center in Milwaukee.
• Mercy Housing secured a $20 million allocation of New Markets Tax Credits that will be utilized to help finance a mixed-use development in Chicago’s Little Village community.
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:
Barbara and William Abromitis
Sheila & Bennett Applegate
Lindsey & J. Carlos Artola
Nancy & Michael Borders
Loretta & Michael Clune
Helen Dunlap
William Goldsmith
Charles Hoch & Susan Stall
Saran Morgan &
Robert Ayer Hutchins
Andrew Jaworski
Doug Kenshol & Amy Wiegert
Lindsay Marriott
Tony & Sharon Mastracci
Susan & John Powell
Margot & Harold Schiff
P. K. Whitlock
Organizations:
Malden Arms Apartments in Chicago, Ill.
To meet financial challenges, Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL) secured
the Long Term Operating Support rental subsidy from the Chicago Low
Income Housing Trust Fund for 62 percent of the units. This funding
allowed MHL to increase building revenues and finance the project
without impacting resident costs. In most cases, resident rent costs
actually decreased. MHL and its tax credit investor, National Equity
Fund, front-funded a “future losses reserve account.” This reserve
was created to enable Mercy Housing Lakefront to sustain low
rent-levels for at least seventeen more years.
1,000 potential residents seek housing in Chicago’s Englewood Community.
Mercy Portfolio Services
Chicago receives $98 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding
The City of Chicago will receive a $98 million federal grant to
recycle foreclosed homes. The grant is part of the second round of
funding from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP 2). The
Neighborhood Stabilization Program was established for the
purpose of stabilizing communities that have suffered from
foreclosures and abandonment through the purchase and
10 Mercy Housing
Mercy Housing Lakefront
redevelopment of foreclosed and abandoned homes and
residential properties.
Chicago received $55 million in federal stimulus money from NSP
1 to acquire and rehabilitate vacant, foreclosed properties in 25
Chicago neighborhoods. The program is being managed by Mercy
Portfolio Services (MPS), a subsidiary of Mercy Housing.
So far, the city and MPS have purchased a variety of
single-family houses and apartment buildings comprising
95 units with another 107 under contract. Under NSP 2,
the city and MPS will buy and oversee the rehabilitation
of 1,331 housing units and demolish 182 that are beyond
salvation. Of the units being demolished, 27 will be
replaced with new houses and apartment buildings.
Others will become community gardens,
playgrounds or other public amenities. Twothirds of the new and rehabbed units will be
resold to moderate-income families (incomes at
or below 120 percent of area media) with the rest
rented to those of even more limited means.
Admiral Heating and Ventilating, Inc.
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen
Bank of America
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Blum-Kovler Foundation
Carl R. Hendrickson Family Foundation
Charter One Bank
Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness
Chicago Community Trust
Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation
CRASH USA
Crown Family Philanthropies
Fannie Mae
Golub & Company, LLC
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Huen Electric, Incorporated
James McHugh Construction Company
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
JPMorgan Chase
Linn - Mathes Inc.
Little Flower Fund
Madison Construction
Northern Trust Company
Polk Bros. Foundation
Provena Health
The John Buck Company
The Owens Foundation
The Private Bank and Trust Company
The Rhoades Foundation
Theodore Eckert Foundation
U.S. Bank
USG Corporation
Walgreens Corporation
Weese Langley Weese Architects
Wieboldt Foundation
William G. McGowan Charitable Fund
Winter 2010 11
Mercy Housing
SOUTHEAST
MHSE opens newly
renovated senior property
in Atlanta
This fall, Mercy Housing Southeast (MHSE) celebrated the opening
of the Atrium at CollegeTown, an 190 unit property for seniors near
the Historic West End of Atlanta, Ga. Formerly John O. Chiles,
the building was constructed in 1965. The original 10-story,
222-unit building had been a valuable affordable housing
community serving elderly households for over 40 years.
Directly adjacent to the Atlanta University Center, The Atrium is
within close proximity to Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse
College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College –
one of the most prestigious concentrations of Historically Black
Colleges and Universities.
In 2006, MHSE, The Integral Group and The Housing Authority
of the City of Atlanta set out to create a renovation plan that
would address its immediate capital improvement needs and add
amenities to the building that would allow it to continue to provide
quality affordable housing.
Together, MHSE with the support of Georgia’s Department of
Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs, the City of Atlanta and
SunTrust, developed
a financing
structure that would
allow over $55,000
of renovations per
unit and ensure
that the property
remains affordable
to seniors for years
to come.
The Atrium
at CollegeTown
in Atlanta, Ga.
12 Mercy Housing
Mercy Housing Southeast staff, partners and residents celebrate the
opening of The Atrium at CollegeTown
The renovation scope of work included reconfiguring the units
to reduce the total number from 222 to 190 units. Thirty-six of the
existing efficiency units along with the adjacent one-bedroom
units were combined to create 38 spacious two-bedroom units.
To create additional space in the units, the former balconies were
enclosed with floor to ceiling windows. All units received upgrades
by adding new energy efficient appliances, new flooring, new
lighting packages, new cabinetry and countertops, as well as
new bathrooms.
www.mercyhousingsoutheast.org
Health and wellness program
benefits women at Mulberry Court
More than forty women, including Mercy Housing
Southeast residents and community members,
attended the Women of Worth (WOW) program at
Mulberry Court Apartments in Greenville, S.C. The
program is designed to help women make healthier
choices by teaching them how to incorporate
nutrition and exercise into their lives. Mulberry Court
Apartments features 42 apartment homes for families.
The WOW program is presented by the Pink Ghost
Breast & Health Foundation. The mission of the
Pink Ghost Breast & Health Foundation is to support
and educate the working class, minorities and
underserved through outreach, awareness, advocacy
and referrals to health care. The WOW program was
created due to the major health disparities related
to African-American women such as diabetes and
breast cancer. More than 90 percent of the female
residents living at Mulberry Court are African-
The program will be presented monthly at a nearby
community center. Every other month, segments of the
program will be presented to residents at Mulberry Court.
621 North Avenue
Suite A-150
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404.873.3887
With heartfelt
thanks
Mercy Housing Southeast
would like to thank everyone
involved with our Lifting
Spirits, Building Homes,
Strengthening Lives
fundraising dinner.
Your generosity is greatly
appreciated and will
support our Resident
Services and Programs
which assist residents in
stabilizing their lives and
achieving their dreams.
Thank you for your
support in making this
event a success!
Mercy Housing Southeast residents
receive holiday gifts from Payless
In December, just in time for the holidays, Mercy Housing was one
of 700 nonprofit organizations across the United States and Canada
selected by Payless ShoeSource from 2,800 applicants to receive an
award of 150 $15.00 gift certificates to be distributed to children
in need.
MHSE also reconfigured the atrium level and other underutilized
community spaces to include new management offices, spacious
common/meeting rooms, arts and crafts room, wellness suite,
computer room, library and an equipped exercise room.
“The Atrium at CollegeTown has been repositioned to continue
being a valuable housing asset to the community,” said Pete
Walker, Mercy Housing Southeast President. “The rehabilitation of
The Atrium could not have been possible without the support and
patience of the residents of the former John O. Chiles community
as well as numerous local, state and national organizations.”
American. Many of the residents deal with diabetes,
high blood pressure and breast cancer. The WOW
program will help Mulberry Court increase wellness
and health awareness amongst those who do not have
adequate access to the necessary tools and resources
they need.
Mercy Housing Southeast
Thirteen young Mercy Housing Southeast
residents in Atlanta received gift cards
from Payless ShoeSource
Mercy Housing residents across the nation families benefitted from
Payless’ generosity. Residents were selected based on reported
history of financial need by on site Resident Service Coordinators and
Case Managers. Priority was given to children who did not have
adequate shoes for cold weather, had outgrown their shoes or had
shoes in disrepair.
Four families from Mercy Housing Southeast’s Heritage Place and
Heritage Corner & Row in Atlanta received gift cards for their children. For example, one single mother had four
boys who were in desperate need of new shoes.
“We know that a great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self confidence and bring a huge smile to a child’s face,
especially when they get to pick the shoes out themselves, which makes the gift even more powerful,” said LuAnn
Via, President and CEO of Payless ShoeSouce. “Together we know what an amazing holiday gift this was for so many
Mercy Housing families and children.”
Winter 2010 13
I N T E R C O M M U NI T Y
Mercy Housing
www.intercommunitymercyhousing.org
IMH residents receive
employment assistance
By providing safe, quality, affordable housing, Intercommunity Mercy
Housing (IMH) eliminates a major stress factor for families, enabling
them to begin addressing other concerns, such as education, life
skills, career development and economic security. In response to the
current economic crisis, IMH developed the Employment Services
Program. Under the leadership of Employment Services Program
Administrator Greg Duncans, the program will offer IMH residents
throughout the Puget Sound region more individualized and focused
assistance in achieving their employment goals, improving their
employability and increasing their economic assets.
“While the Employment Services Program provides individuals the
opportunity to re-learn or discover new skills to become employable
and independent, it also gives residents the feeling of reaching their
potential and finding self-confidence,” said Duncans.
As part of his responsibilities, Duncans will also be inviting businesses
both in the public and private sectors to partner with IMH by providing
job shadowing for residents.
According to Katie Parker, Resident Services Director at IMH, “this
unique collaboration brings the community together by allowing
corporations to become mentors to individuals who want to work,
and at the same time, it provides our residents a point of reference
for jobs they may be interested in pursuing.”
As the program evolves, Duncans will evaluate trends taking place at
the community-level as well as meet with residents to understand their
re-emergence into the workforce.
The program is funded in part by Intercommunity Mercy Housing’s
generous corporate and philanthropic partners including support from JP
Morgan Chase, the Women’s Funding Alliance and the Boeing Company.
Wishes fulfilled through IMH’s most
successful holiday campaign ever
As the holidays approached, Intercommunity Mercy Housing (IMH)
wanted to reach beyond the efforts at our largest urban properties and
provide assistance to residents at properties in remote rural locations
that do not have full-time Resident Services programs. Property
managers at Ferndale Villa in Ferndale; Rock Creek in Stevenson;
and the Cedarwood Apartments in Lake Stevens compiled
“Holiday Wish Lists” from their residents.
growing in 2009 despite the relentless news about the struggling
economy. More than 120 new donors joined our already loyal givers,
making the year one of our most successful. As a result 1,179 IMH
residents and 79 community residents all had some very happy holidays.
Residents received gift cards instead of pre-wrapped presents allowing
parents the opportunity to be involved in fulfilling the holiday wishes of
their children. Every recipient also received a gift card for groceries.
“We didn’t turn down anyone who applied,” said Katie Parker,
IMH Resident Services Director.
“There was a lot of immediate feedback
about this campaign,” said Parker. “The
residents told the property managers, ‘Thank
you. Thank you for helping us out this year.”
Any fears about being unable to
meet their needs were quickly
dissipated. IMH board members,
new individual donors, Molina Health,
Payless Shoes and even one local
Girl Scout Troop 388 decided to step
up to the campaign.
Charitable giving to Intercommunity
Mercy Housing was strong and
14 Mercy Housing
Intercommunity Mercy Housing
residents receive holiday gifts
from generous donors
Special assistance like the holiday
campaign and educational programs help
families thrive. Due to the success of this
campaign, IMH is already gearing up to
expand the effort to at least two more rural
properties in 2010.
Sterling Meadows is home base
for partnerships to give
young residents a head start
Intercommunity
Mercy Housing
2505 Third Avenue,
Suite 204
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206.463.5858
A brand new Head Start
classroom opened its doors
in Bellingham, Wash., this
January. Thanks to the
strong partnership with
Intercommunity Mercy
Housing (IMH), the class will
primarily serve pre-schoolers
whose families call Sterling
Meadows home. The new
classroom is operated by
Opportunity Council, which
serves 400 children in Head
Start programs across
Whatcom County.
Since Sterling Meadows
opened in 2002, IMH has
partnered with Opportunity
Council to link residents to
critical services, often finding
creative ways to bring the
services to the property.
Kids at Sterling Meadows get a ‘head start’ on kindergarten, life
However, not all services can be brought to the property
and some families’ transportation boundaries prevent them
from accessing some services. So when Head Start leaders
were exploring the option to open an additional classroom,
IMH Resident Services Coordinator Lindsay Karas jumped
at the chance to collaborate.
services for low-income families and children
with special needs. Children enrolled in Head
Start attend preschool at a Child Care Partnership
site, and receive health assessments, nutrition
education, mental health services, social service
referrals, home visits, and family support services.
The Opportunity Council wrote a grant and received funding
in 2009 to open up 18 new spots, with priority given to
Sterling Meadows kids. Karas wrote a letter of support for
the grant request and secured funding for a bus to pickup
and drop-off Sterling Meadows children.
Children deserve a chance to succeed in school
and life, which begins with their family being able
to afford a decent place to live. IMH’s Sterling
Meadows Apartments’ safe, affordable, and
beautiful rental community is the home base for
50 families. Partnerships like those with
Opportunity Council’s Head Start program fuel
kids’ chances to succeed.
All 20 pre-school aged children who live at Sterling
Meadows qualify for Head Start. 18 are already enrolled.
Head Start is a federally-funded program which provides
quality, comprehensive early childhood development
Winter 2010 15
N O T E S f r o m the Field
Mercy Housing plans much-needed rehabilitation
for Crestview Village
Through a recent award of 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax
Credits, Mercy Housing will be able to complete the necessary
rehabilitation at Crestview Village to ensure that it will continue to
provide stable, affordable housing for the low-income residents it
serves. Along with the award of tax credits, Mercy Housing intends
to contribute additional money to the
property to aid in the redevelopment.
and faucets, all new ENERGY STAR appliances, new recycled
carpet, new low-flow toilets and bathroom accessories.
Funding support for this rehabilitation project also came from
the $6 million gift provided to Mercy Housing from Catholic
Health Initiatives (CHI). CHI’s donation is
helping to fund much-needed capital
improvements and supportive programs in
Nebraska and Iowa.
Crestview Village, a 154-unit property
located in La Vista, Neb., is comprised of
“With the grant from CHI, we have been
two-story townhomes and single-story,
saving
on predevelopment line of credit fees
one-bedroom units. Crestview Village
and
are
using the grant to bridge a gap in
was built in 1971 to provide affordable,
financing on Crestview which did not receive
independent housing to low-income
TCAP funds,” said Aruna Doddapaneni,
individuals and families in Sarpy County.
Mercy Housing Senior Project Developer.
Mercy Housing acquired Crestview
Crestview Village in La Vista, Neb.
Village in 1996 through the Low Income
The rehab will also include the construction
Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990.
of a new handicap-accessible, 3,900 square-foot community
The property is managed by Mercy Services Corporation and
building, which will be the home of the Resident Services
current occupancy at the property is 98 percent.
program, which is currently being run from one of the
The rehab, which will incorporate energy-saving green measures,
includes upgrading landscaping, repairing sidewalks, upgrading
playground equipment, new kitchen cabinets, countertops, sinks
apartments. Resident Services offered at Crestview include a
computer lab, after school programs, economic development
classes and health and wellness programs.
MSC employees provide food to those in need
This holiday season, staff members from Mercy Services
Corporation (MSC) in the Mercy Housing Southeast region
participated in the 2009 Atlanta Apartment Association Food
Drive to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The Atlanta
Apartment Association through its member property
management companies and vendors raised cash and
collected food donations to equal 3.45 million meals in 2009.
The meals are distributed all across the Southeast region to
feed the hungry including families, seniors, and special needs
and homeless individuals.
Each year the Atlanta Apartment Association recognizes the
top ten contributors based on the amount of food and/or
money collected against the total number of units each
company manages in the metro Atlanta area. With over 60
property management companies participating, MSC was
recognized amongst the top ten contributors of donations and
16 Mercy Housing
was awarded two beautiful
plaques to celebrate that
accomplishment.
“In addition to helping feed
hungry people in a year where
more people need it than ever –
this recognition continues to
build our brand in the Southeast,”
said Sharon Cauthen, Mercy
Services Corporation Regional
Vice President. “People in our
industry who are interested in working for Mercy are coming to
learn that we put our heart into our mission every day – from the
bricks and sticks of development and construction, to the pride of
ownership, to the strong daily operations and unparalleled
Resident Services programs – Mercy Housing Southeast is
becoming an employer of choice!”
Mercy Loan Fund receives $20 million
New Markets Tax Credit Allocation
Mercy Loan Fund will allocate its NMTC credits among
In November 2009, Mercy Loan Fund received $20 million in federal
New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) funds to support local businesses in mixed-use projects included in the application from California,
Washington, Illinois and Georgia.
need. The funds will provide financing to businesses and projects
that support economic development in low-income communities.
“We are enormously grateful to the CDFI Fund for allowing us
Mercy Loan Fund was one of 99 organizations selected from a pool
the opportunity to broaden our mission and help create healthy,
of 249 applicants to receive allocations totaling $5 billion by the
livable communities,” said Warren Horvath, Mercy Loan Fund
Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
president. “New Markets Tax Credits are essential to generating
“This marks Mercy Loan Fund’s foray into the New Markets Tax Credit ancillary economic investment opportunities ultimately
stimulating job creation and community development.”
program and we are pleased that our plans to enhance four Mercy
Housing regions will be supported by the CDFI Fund,” said Mark
The NMTC program strives to stimulate private investment in
Korell, Chair of the Mercy Loan Fund Board of Directors. “As we
low-income communities by providing tax credits to investors
further our mission to finance the development of single- and multiwho make qualified equity investments in privately managed
family homes for rental and homeownership, this allocation enables
community
development entities (CDE). By making an equity
us to also revitalize our communities with a breadth of commercial
investment
in an eligible CDE, investors can receive tax credits
properties from daycare centers to neighborhood grocery stores.”
worth more than 30 percent of the amount invested.
Economic effects on
Mercy Housing Resident Services
Recently, the Mercy Measurement
Initiative compared two twelve-month
periods of time to see if the downturn in
the economy has affected the rates of
service access at Mercy Housing
properties with Resident Services.
Through the development of program
models and data management systems,
the Mercy Measurement Initiative
enables Mercy Housing to analyze
and demonstrate the impact of
Resident Services.
This analysis determined the beginning of
the economic downturn to be October
2008. The data analysis has shown that
many services were accessed more after
the economic downturn began. More
residents at both family and senior
properties accessed food banks, eviction
prevention counseling, rental assistance
and energy assistance. Also, more
residents received dental health services
and household budget help at family
properties after the downturn in the economy.
Mercy Housing Resident Services staff are
working to target programs to more effectively
support residents during these difficult
economic times.
Winter 2010 17
Keys to Mercy Housing
Volunteer Spotlight
Citi employees volunteer at Mercy Housing
properties on Citi Global Community Day
Mercy Housing properties
throughout California and in
Chicago benefitted from the help
of Citi employee volunteers
during Citi’s annual Global
Community Day. Each year Citi
employees around the world
spend one Saturday together in a
group day of service.
supportive housing building that provides
207 formerly homeless, disabled, and
low-income individuals with affordable,
program-enriched housing.
Citi employees made a difference at
several Mercy Housing California
properties across the state. At two
properties, Citi volunteers put their
financial skills to use by teaching
Citi and the Citi Foundation are
financial planning and credit basics
long-time supporters of Mercy
classes. Meanwhile, other Citi volunteers
Housing’s mission, giving more
helped to build a community garden and
Citi volunteers and Mercy Housing staff prepare to
than $3.4 million to support housing
“rehabbed” a recreation room where
paint the South Loop Apartments
development and resident services
youth and adult residents gather for
to date. The Citi Foundation is committed to enhancing economic classes and community activities. (For more on Citi volunteers’ work
opportunities for underserved families and people in communities with Mercy Housing California, please see page 5.)
where Citi works throughout the world. This is the first year
Mercy Housing greatly appreciates the hard work done by Citi
Mercy Housing has participated in Global Community Day.
employees on behalf of our residents on Citi Global Community Day.
At Mercy Housing Lakefront’s South Loop Apartments in Chicago, Volunteers are a vital resource in meeting Mercy Housing’s mission
25 Citi volunteers painted common areas on two of the South
of providing quality affordable housing to those in need.
Loop Apartment’s nine floors. The South Loop Apartments is a
Thank You
During these challenging economic times, we deeply appreciate Mercy Housing’s many generous
supporters. We could not accomplish our mission without your commitment to our work. Your support has
impacted thousands of our residents who have been enriched by affordable housing and supportive services.
Thank you. Your gift is making a difference in the lives of those in need.
In 2009, your support enabled us to participate in the development, preservation and/or financing of more
than 37,200 affordable homes, both rental and single family, serving more than 128,000 people. In addition
to increasing the supply of affordable housing, your gift allowed us to provide on-site, resident programs
including after-school tutoring, computer centers, health classes, financial education programs,
employment initiatives and more.
We hope you feel proud to be a partner in these efforts.
From the staff and residents of Mercy Housing, please accept our heartfelt gratitude and thanks for your
commitment to affordable housing and creating a better world.
grants & Announcements
Fannie Mae supports neighborhood stabilization
and supportive housing initiative
Mercy Housing was recently awarded a grant from Fannie Mae
to support neighborhood stabilization activities and supportive
housing development across the country. Fannie Mae’s
charitable giving focuses on addressing the nation’s toughest
housing issues, and preventing and ending homelessness.
The grant will support the efforts of Mercy Portfolio Services
as it expands its successful foreclosure mitigation program to
other Mercy Housing offices across the country. Mercy
Housing created Mercy Portfolio Services in 2008 in response
to the foreclosure crisis. Piloted in Chicago with great success,
Mercy Portfolio Services is working to address foreclosure
mitigation in Mercy Housing’s regional locations, as well as
other high need markets through neighborhood stabilization
program activities and other capacity-building services.
The grant will also finance the development of supportive
housing as part of an initiative to expand Mercy Housing’s
supportive housing portfolio. Supportive housing is permanent,
affordable housing that is enriched with supportive services
benefiting people who
have been homeless
or who are at high
risk for homelessness.
Services are focused on the areas of housing stability, health,
community building and employment.
This grant supports housing development in California, Colorado
and Illinois and provides funding for expanding supportive
housing activities in Georgia and Washington.
$150,000 Core Support Grant
awarded by Weingart Foundation to MHC
In January 2009, the Weingart Foundation began providing core
operating grants to nonprofit organizations that have been
significantly impacted by the financial crisis. Mercy Housing
California (MHC) is honored and extremely grateful to have been
selected as a grant recipient and in December received the
maximum grant award of $150,000 over two years for operations
in Southern California, with emphasis on maintaining staffing for
housing development and Resident Services. MHC previously
received Weingart Foundation funding in 2004.
The Weingart Foundation’s Core Support Grant to MHC will be
used in the Southern California office to assure MHC’s ability to
continue real estate development activities, leading to increased
units of affordable housing, and support the expanding need for
Resident Services. This unrestricted funding provided by
Weingart Foundation is designed to enable an organization to
carry out its mission and can be used to underwrite
administrative infrastructure costs and/or maintain core
programs and essential staff. With this resource, MHC’s ability to
deliver the affordable housing units in the MHC Southern
California development pipeline will be greatly enhanced.
The Weingart Foundation was created in 1951 by Ben Weingart
and his wife Stella. Weingart, who died in 1980 at the age of 92,
was a real estate developer and investor who built an estate
composed principally of hotels, shopping centers and
apartment buildings. He also developed affordable housing for
thousands of families in Southern California. Because of
Weingart’s life-long concern for the welfare of the homeless,
destitute and people in need, the Weingart Foundation has
focused its grant making on programs that address the needs
of the under-served and the general community. During the
past 37 years, the Weingart Foundation has awarded grants of
more than $856 million to support a variety of Southern
California social services, educational, and community
programs and is a major philanthropic institution serving the
needs of Southern California.
For more information about Mercy Housing’s work in 2009, please see our upcoming Annual Report.
To receive a copy, please contact info@mercyhousing.org.
18 Mercy Housing
Winter 2010 19
Keys to Mercy Housing
Kurt Rogers
Res i d ent s p ot l i g h t
MHL resident leader joins Board of Directors
Rogers, who has experienced homelessness
in his own life, was introduced to Mercy
Housing Lakefront by a case worker thirteen
years ago. An active participant in the fight
for affordable housing and homeless services
Rogers understands the importance of having resident members for many years, Rogers has campaigned
on the Board of Directors. Not only can he be a trusted
throughout the Midwest and Washington,
representative for his fellow residents, but he can help fellow
D.C., sharing his own story with local and
Board members and donors connect with the mission of Mercy national legislators. He credits Mercy
Housing in a richer way.
Housing for many positive changes in his
life and is excited to be able to give back to
“The name speaks for itself: We show compassion to people,
the organization.
Carlton Apartments
regardless of where they come from. We give people the chance
resident Kurt Rogers is
to better themselves,” said Rogers. “I’ve had many opportunities “I’m honored to be on the Board and want
newest Mercy Housing
and I’m grateful for that. Now I want to make sure those who
the members to see how they are changing
Lakefront Board member.
come after me have the same opportunities. I want to be a role
lives,” Rogers said. “Mercy Housing gave
model to the tenants and to my fellow Board members and show me structure. Mercy Housing gave me hope. Mercy Housing gave me
everyone the positivity that comes from programs like Mercy
strength. Most importantly, though, Mercy Housing gave me the ability
Housing. The need keeps on growing, and it’s critical that Mercy to see my own faults and to make changes for the better.”
Housing keeps on growing to meet that need.”
In January, Mercy Housing Lakefront welcomed Kurt Rogers
to the Board of Directors. Rogers is a passionate proponent for
affordable housing and has been a resident at Mercy Housing
Lakefront’s Carlton Apartments since 1997.
To receive the latest updates and news from
Mercy Housing, visit www.mercyhousing.org
and sign up for our e-mail alerts.
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