Community Matters News and Updates (Summer 2013)

Take a look at some of the good work done over the past few months by Mercy Housing Staff and Partners in communities all across the nation.

Mercy Housing California

  • Received a $160,000 grant from Citi Foundation to develop a new model of affordable housing paired with health care.
  • Sends its heartfelt congratulations to board member Tangerine Brigham, on the announcement of her new position as the Deputy Director of Managed Care for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Until recently, Brigham served as the Deputy Director of Health for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Mercy Loan Fund

  • Provided a $2 million loan to Merced de las Animas, a Mercy Housing apartment complex in Durango, Colo., to build a new fence at the property that was damaged in February 2011 due to a boulder crashing through it. Mercy Partnership Fund participated in this transaction to bring down the overall cost to the borrower. In addition to the new fence, the Mercy Loan Fund loan was also used for other capital improvements at the property and to refinance the current debt.

Mercy Housing Lakefront

  • Received $1,288,472 in gifts, including gifts of $25,000 or more from Bank of America Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, Citi Foundation, Community Memorial Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, Fannie Mae, Harris Family Foundation, Helen Brach Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community, State Farm, and U.S. Bancorp Foundation.
  • Received one of four 2013 MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing for innovation in the development of green, healthy, service-enriched affordable housing for seniors at Roseland Place Apartments.
  • Engaged 266 residents and volunteers to build a playground in partnership with KaBOOM!, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Burger King, and 19 other organizations. Congresswoman Robin Kelly, State Representative Elgie Sims, Jr., and Alderman Anthony Beale attended the Build Day and participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
  • Celebrated the start of school with events and school supply distributions at five locations, including the donation of 180 backpacks with supplies by U.S. Bank at Pullman Wheelworks.
  • Welcomed new board member Charles B. Lewis, a partner at Duane Morris LLP.

Mercy Housing Northwest

  • Received several grants: JPMorgan Chase Foundation to support MHNW’s ongoing work to revitalize Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, State of Washington Department of Health and Human Services to assist residents in registering for benefits, a three-year award from Catholic Health Initiatives to fund a Healthcare Coordination Specialist in Tacoma, as well as continuing support from the Sisters of Mercy West-Midwest.
  • Sends special congratulations to longtime board member Sister Judy Byron, OP on her Golden Jubilee as a Dominican Sister.
  • Celebrated outstanding corporate partners who rallied this summer to support our work. The Microsoft Store designated MHNW as its July partner of the month. Employees from the Boeing Company volunteered to beautify one of our properties in Lake Stevens. U.S. Bank donated over 300 backpacks to support our students in Moscow & Nampa, ID, and Kent & Lynnwood, Wash. Equity Residential building residents and staff collected back-to-school supplies as a part of the campaign to help over 850 MHNW youth start and succeed in the new school year.