Stories

Meet Mr. Bronstein. ​Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Bronstein grew up surrounded with the love and support of a single mother and older brother. Reflecting on his childhood, Mr. Bronstein recalls his love of playing baseball. “I often sat on the bench,” he offers, laughing. “But on one of the few occasions I got

Riding Into a New Community Harold, an 83-year-old resident of Mercy Housing Lakefront’s Assisi Homes of Kenosha, feels lucky to be active and engaged with others, especially during a pandemic. He was born in Germany shortly before World War II and lost his father to the war. His family later immigrated to the United States

A Fresh Start in Lakeview Although life has been hard, for Gregorio, the future is limitless. Gregorio was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in Chicago. He left high school in the tenth grade to pursue employment and spent time moving around Chicago, eventually becoming a supervisor at an industrial company in the city.

Meet Terri Thirty years ago, Terri Ruffin made the decision to join the United States Army. Her superiors quickly recognized her talents and it wasn’t long before she was selected to receive specialized training in Air Traffic Control School. “I became the first African-American female Air Traffic Control instructor in the U.S. Army,” Terri said. It’s a distinction

At 104 years old, Rafelita is one of Mercy Housing’s eldest residents. For 14 years, she’s lived at Mercy Housing’s Clare of Assisi apartments. Raised in the San Luis Valley, her joyful youth was spent on a ranch. She attributes her long life to growing up on a ranch, remembering: “fresh food, time with friends and nine siblings — can’t beat that. I could run wild in fresh air, with the people I care about, that’s what life is about.”

LaVonya had an 8-year-old son, volunteered at church, and was a naval reservist. She graduated from Columbia College and promptly found a job. In less than a year, she was laid off. That same year her mother passed away leaving LaVonya to look after her 12-year-old brother. Suddenly, she had two growing boys to raise and was out of a job. She needed a home for the three of them, but student debt prevented her from getting a loan to buy a home while trying to find a new job, all at once.

17 years-old and on her own, Edna was battling homelessness and addiction on the streets of Chicago. Filled with hope and a desire for a better life, she found her way to Mercy Housing and moved into an apartment in the Schiff Residences…

Virginia Watt never thought that she would realize the dream of homeownership. A native Chicagoan, Virginia has been working as a forklift operator with Graham Packaging for 33 years…

Mercy Housing Lakefront opened the Wentworth Commons Apartments in June 2005 and soon became home to 24 single adults and 27 families, including 85 children who were formerly homeless or at great risk of becoming homeless…

By the time Bridgette Sims connected with Mercy Housing, she had fought through recovery from addiction and lived in homeless shelters. Her strength and tenacity led to a job and the ability to move her family into a home of their own…