CHICAGO, November 1, 2018 – Mercy Housing Lakefront today announced the acceptance of a $5,000 grant from The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley to purchase hearing accessibility equipment (pocket talkers) for senior residents at the organization’s Constitution House in Aurora, IL. Pocket talker devices are reliable and easy-to-use sound amplifiers designed for individuals who are unable to afford standard hearing aids.

Approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 experience hearing loss, often resulting in feelings of depression and isolation that cause those afflicted to withdraw from social activities to avoid frustration and embarrassment. As a result, seniors with untreated hearing loss generally report a lower quality of life than those whose hearing remains intact.

Constitution House provides affordable homes to 243 low-income seniors, many of whom experience age-related hearing loss. The use of pocket talker devices will make it possible for residents to fully access onsite supportive services such as benefits and entitlements assistance, health and wellness counseling, and other programming that allows them to age in place with dignity and respect.

“Mercy Housing Lakefront’s mantra is Live in Hope, and the generosity of The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley will allow seniors at Constitution House to do exactly that,” said Mark Angelini, President of Mercy Housing Lakefront. “Without the ability to hear, residents are isolated from those around them and limited in their ability to access supportive services that improve their physical health, financial security and ability to live independently for as long as possible. The pocket talker devices solve this problem, and we look forward to the positive impact they will have on the lives of those we serve.”

To introduce residents to the pocket talker devices and encourage their use, Mercy Housing Lakefront hosted a pocket talker training event at Constitution House on October 31.

“The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is proud to support nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life for those living in our service area,” said Jeffrey J. Hartman, the Foundation’s President and CEO. “No senior should be limited simply because they lack the funds to address their hearing loss, and we are confident that this grant will greatly enhance Mercy Housing Lakefront’s ability to provide seniors at Constitution House with the support they need to thrive.”

About The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a non-profit, tax-exempt, philanthropic organization that administers individual charitable funds from which grants and scholarships are distributed to benefit the citizens of the Greater Aurora Area, the TriCities and Kendall County, Illinois.

Founded in 1948, the Foundation provides a simple and powerful approach to charitable giving. Individuals, families, businesses and organizations have the opportunity to custom design their own named funds that reflect their charitable goals and interests. Since its inception, the Community Foundation has grown to more than $94 million in assets and has awarded more than $74 million in grants and scholarships.

For more information on the Foundation, visit www.CommunityFoundationFRV.org

About Mercy Housing Lakefront

Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL) is working to build a region where everyone has an affordable home to use as a springboard to achieve better health, economic security, and a brighter future for their kids. MHL owns and operates 52 properties in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, serving more than 8,000 people annually. MHL is a regional branch of Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), a leading national affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Please find additional information at www.mercyhousinglakefront.org.