Jane Graf, Mercy Housing’s President & CEO, is retiring—Mercy Housing is the largest affordable housing nonprofit and with a presence in 41 states, their role in addressing the affordable housing crisis is pivotal.  

Graf has announced her plan to retire in 2020 following a 32-year career with Mercy Housing—headquartered in Denver,CO. She came from a special generation of affordable housing advocates whose careers kicked off well before the passing of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) — groundbreaking legislation that created hundreds of thousands of homes for low-income people and is the lifeblood of affordable housing today.

Like Graf, many other affordable housing leaders, that have been in the industry since before the inception of LIHTC, are retiring — begging the question — who will lead the next generation of affordable housing and how will they handle this crucial time where affordable homes are scarce across the nation.

Graf has served in her current role at Mercy Housing since 2014, and before that, served for three years as Chief Operating Officer and then President, where she oversaw all regional offices covering 22 states.  Graf joined Mercy Housing decades ago as the President of the Mercy Housing California regional office.

During her tenure in California, she played a critical role in helping the organization adapt to significant growth by presiding over three organizational mergers that expanded the reach of Mercy Housing statewide and greatly expanded the affordable housing portfolio across the state.

“We celebrate Jane’s many accomplishments and her decades of leadership service to Mercy Housing. Jane’s career has been deeply committed to social justice and she has made an indelible impact on the affordable housing industry.  Under her leadership, the organization has grown revenues and profitability, and created a sustainable nonprofit that is well-positioned for the future. Let this be the first of many expressions of gratitude for all that Jane has accomplished for low-income families across the country.”—Sr. Linda Werthman, RSM Chair of the Board of Trustees of Mercy Housing.

Graf began her career in nonprofit development in Oregon in 1978 through her involvement in housing issues affecting persons with disabilities. In 1981, she founded Specialized Housing, Inc., a nonprofit housing development corporation that serves persons with developmental disabilities throughout the State of Oregon. In 1987, Graf joined Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco as the Director of Housing Development and doubled production of affordable housing over the next six years. In that same year, she was responsible for the development of one of the first Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties in San Francisco, Peter Claver Community, just months after the LIHTC program became operational.

About Mercy Housing, Inc.

Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), is a leading national affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colo. Established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1981, and in operation in 41 states, MHI has nearly 40 years’ experience developing, preserving, managing, and financing affordable housing, with regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle. MHI supplements much of its housing with Resident Services, programs that help residents build stable lives. MHI’s subsidiaries further the organization’s mission: Mercy Housing Management Group (MHMG) offers professional property management and Mercy Loan Fund (MLF) finances nonprofit organizations.

MHI serves tens of thousands of people with low incomes, including families, seniors, veterans, people who have experienced homelessness, and people with disabilities. Its mission is to build a more humane world where poverty is alleviated, communities are healthy, and all people can live to their full potential. To learn more about MHI and the services it provides, visit mercyhousing.org.