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Lauren LapinskiUNIV 291October 4, 2011Research Paper
Mercy Housing (Lakefront)
Before beginning, it is important to note the difference between affordable housing and
supportive housing. Affordable housing provides residents with housing options they can afford,
while supportive housing provides not only affordable housing, but services and programs to
improve the quality of life of residents and help them raise their social and economic status to
move out of supportive housing (E. Tumiel, personal communication, September 6, 2011).
Mercy Housing follows the supportive housing model.
History of Mercy Housing Lakefront
Mercy Housing Lakefront originally started as Lakefront SRO in response to
gentrification in the Uptown area. Many buildings in the area were being replaced with high-rise
condos (E. Tumiel, personal communication, September 6, 2011), one of which was the
Moreland Hotel (Kerech, 1988). The Moreland Hotel was a single occupancy room building in
endanger of being closed, displacing its low-income residents. After over a year of legal battles,
Lakefront SRO bought the building on the corner of Argyle and Sheridan for $360,000 (however
the cost after repairs and restoration was about $2.6 million) (Kerech, 1988) to help secure
affordable housing to the the large Appalachian and Asian immigrates in the community (E.
Tumiel, personal communication, September 6, 2011). Lakefront SRO renamed the building
Harold Washington SRO, and is still in operation today. Elizabeth Tumiel, Manager of Tenant
Leadership at Mercy Housing Lakefront described Lakefront SRO was a local organization in
Chicago, developing and managing only supportive housing, with the mission to end
homelessness (personal communication, October 3, 2011). Lakefront SRO owned and
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maintained 10 sustainable-single room occupancy buildings prior to its merger with Mercy
Housing Midwest (Stewards for Affordable Housing in the Future [SAHF], 2008)
In January 2006, Lakefront SRO merged with Mercy Housing Midwest to develop Mercy
Housing Lakefront. The merger created a broader client base by establishing workforce housing,
assisted and independent senior housing, and general affordable housing in multiple states (E.
Tumiel, personal communication, September 6, 2011). In a press release, Mercy Housing (2006)
said the merger allowed
Lakefront Supportive Housing brings its expertise in supportive services and property
management and the opportunity for Mercy Housing to grow in the Chicago market.
Mercy Housing provides Lakefront Supportive Housing broader knowledge of
developing affordable housing, more economic resources and greater geographic reach.
Together, both organizations strengthen their advocacy efforts to end homelessness and
poverty in Chicago and across the nation.
Mercy Housing Lakefront is one division of Mercy Housing, who has locations divided by
region across the country (Executive Team, n.d.), and as a result of the merger, Mercy Housings
real estate portfolio was worth nearly $47 million in 2008 (Facts About Mercy Housing, 2008).
Today, Mercy Housing has helped in the development, preservation and/or financing of
more than 40,000 affordable homes and an additional 7,309 homes are in the pre-development,
construction or concept phase (Building Affordable Homes, n.d.).
Mission and Vision of Mercy Housing Lakefront
Mercy Housing is dedicated to serving community members who are unable to find
affordable housing. It is Mercy Housings mission to create stable, vibrant and healthy
communities by developing, financing and operating affordable, program-enriched housing for
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families, seniors and people with special needs who lack the economic resources to access
quality, safe housing opportunities (Vision, Mission, Values, n.d.).
This mission aims to fulfill Mercy Housings vision that through creating affordable
housing and programs that improve the lives of residents economically and socially, they will
develop a more humane world where poverty is alleviated, communities are healthy and all
people can develop their full potential (Vision, Mission, Values).
Strategic Plan of Mercy Housing Lakefront
Mercy Housing developed a strategic plan to last from 2010-2014 focuses on six key
areas.
The fist key area is Operating Excellence and Long Term Stability, in which Mercy
Housing aims to maintain its focus on the impact of their business practices in the community
and on their personal finances to ensure that Mercy Housing continues, and even improves, the
level that it operates at. The second key area is Stewardship of Existing Portfolio, meaning
Mercy Housing will continue to offer high quality homes at an affordable price. The third key
area is Resident Services; provide residents with services and programs not already provided
in the community. The fourth area is Growth; Mercy Housing wants secure and additional
60,000 units. The fifth area is Health Care and Housing Linkages, where they aim partner with
health care providers to make health care more affordable to residents. The final area is Public
Policy Education and Advocacy; it is the goal of Mercy Housing make housing more affordable
for people from all economic statuses and increase their use of environmentally sustainable
products in their housing units. (Community Matters, 2010).
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In order to achieve the goals laid out in their strategic plan, Mercy Housing Lakefront is
committed to being ethical, accountable, advocates, diverse and collaborative (Community
Matters, 2010).
Community
Mercy Housing serves over 136,800 (Who We Serve, n.d.) people in 18 states (Where
Were Located). Of the low-income residents that live in Mercy Housings supportive housing
units, 72% are families, 19% seniors and 9% have special needs (formally homeless, people with
mental and physical impairments, and HIV/AIDS-positive residents) (Facts About Mercy
Housing, n.d.). Housing units are designated family, senior or special needs based on the
residents that it serves (Where Were Located, n.d.). This allows Mercy Housings supportive
programs to cater specifically to the needs of the residents.
Residents at Mercy Housing are among are extremely economically disadvantaged, either
being below or slightly above the 2011 Federal Poverty Level. According to the United States
Department of Health and Human Services (2011), the poverty level for a family of four is
$22,350, the average family income of residents is $18,720; the Poverty Level for a single adult
is $10,890, the average income of a senior resident is $11, 811, while the average income of a
special needs resident is $8,957 (Facts About Mercy Housing, n.d.).
Mercy Housing is an enormous organization that spans across the country, making it
difficult to categorize exactly each community they serve. To simplify and give a more in-depth
insight into a specific community, we can focus on Mercy Housing Lakefront, the Chicago
division of Mercy Housing (Executive Team, n.d.), more specifically the original Lakefront SRO
building, Harold Washington Building.
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Mercy Housing Lakefront has 16 supportive housing units in the Chicago area, 6 are
located in the Uptown area, one of which is the Harold Washington Building. The 100-year-old
building was recently renovated (Mercy Housing Lakeshore Progress Report, 2011), and
residents are currently moving into the updated building. Harold Washington, and the rest of the
Mercy Housing Lakefront buildings in the area are for single residents (E. Tumiel, personal
communication, September, 26, 2011).
The Uptown community is diverse in nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, and according
to the United States Census has an unemployment rate of approximately 8.2% and an average
rent of $554 (2011), but the most economically disadvantaged in the community live in one of
Mercy Housing Lakefronts buildings. Tumeil said, the primary population of our supportive
housing properties is formerly homeless individuals who have a history of either substance abuse
or mental health issues. The majority are men between the ages of 45 and 60 (personal
communication, October 3, 2011). She describes the tenants of the Harold Washington building
as dependent on federal assistance such as food stamps and general assistance to supplement
their income. Due to recent budget cuts, residents are now receiving on average $200 in food
stamps and $100 in general assistance (personal communication, September 6, 2011), which has
placed an extreme burden on the residents to try and find an alternative way to pay for
necessities.
Since Mercy Housing Lakefront offers supportive housing, it provides residents with a
variety of services, one of which is Tenant Leadership, which Tumiel manages. In response to
the budget cuts and needs of the residents, one tenant asked to conduct a study to discover where
it is cheapest to buy certain essential items. As manager of Tenant Leadership, it is Tumiels job
to facilitate tenants to carry out their own projects, and she was able to enlist the help of a group
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of students from one of Loyola University Chicagos service-learning courses to help the tenants
carry out the research (personal communication, September 6, 2011).
The project will hopefully continue from there and lead to a presentation to local
government officials to express the need for federal assistance to return to its prior levels and
reduce the economic strain placed on Harold Washington residents and other Uptown residents
also suffering from the cuts. Additionally, the research collected could also be used to lobby for
grocery stores found to be charging more for products than their counterparts to reduce their
prices (E. Tumiel, personal communication, September 6, 2011).
While many of the programs provided to residents at Mercy Housing Lakefront are
directed to improve the quality of life of the residents themselves, they are facing the same
hardships and issues many other Uptown residents are facing. The actions residents take to
change their situations through their Tenant Leadership program can have greater positive
repercussions across the rest of the Uptown community.
Mercy Housing Lakefront and the Community
The focus of Mercy Housing is to stop the loss of affordable housing (Preserving
Communities, n.d.). Mercy Housing Lakefront purchases public housing units on the brink of
closing and remodels and updates the buildings (Preserving Communities, n.d.), which prevents
the current residents from losing their home and also improves the quality of their unit. Mercy
Housing does construct some of its own housing units if the community requires it, but by
upgrading previous housing buildings, they follow their strategic plan of sustainable
development. By preserving previous buildings they save on construction cost, which allows
them to keep, housing affordable and continue to purchase and refurbish more housing units
(Preserving Communities, n.d.). Mercy Housing has also developed a strong commitment to
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making housing units more environmentally sustainable. While upgrading housing units, they
install Energy Star-certified appliances. This not only is a strong movement towards making
affordable housing units more environmentally-friendly, but it also reduces energy and water
cost for the tenants (Preserving Communities, n.d.).
Mercy Housing does more than provide affordable housing; they provide services to
residents to improve their quality of life as well. Mercy Housing implements a system of blended
management, combining property management and resident services in a manner that best suits
the needs of formally homeless individuals (SAHF, 2008). Programs offered in each housing
depending on the types of residents that live in the building. Residents services include GED and
ESL courses, financial education, job education and health services (Resident Services, n.d.).
Additionally, each building has a case manager onsite to assist the residents in problems they
may have. If a resident missed a rent payment, the case manager will work with the resident and
the property manager to address the issue either through arranging a new payment schedule or
other appropriate means (E. Tumiel, personal communication, September 6, 2011). Tumeil said
every building in the Uptown area has case management, employment services, tenant
leadership, and literacy and art classes. The programs are meant to reintegrate residents into the
community. Often times, residents of affordable housing units are used as the scape goat in the
community. With programs such as tenant leadership, residents are able to make a positive
impact in the community and get the chance to show others in the area that they are a positive
asset in the community. Additionally, employment services allow residents to secure a job and be
able to turn their life around and move out of a Mercy Housing building (E. Tumiel, personal
commination, September 6, 2011).
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Mercy Housings services branch out from serving just residents, to serving the
community as well. Mercy Housing is partnering with other local nonprofits to help them build
their own affordable housing through the Mercy Loan Fund (Financing Affordable Housing,
n.d.). This loan enables Mercy Housing to invest in projects similar to their own in other
communities in other states. The Mercy Loan Fund has, so far, provided $200 loans in 35 states
(Mercy Loan Fund, n.d.). Mercy Housing Lakefront also provides portfolio services to
communities receiving emergency funds through federal programs (Portfolio Services, n.d.).
Mercy Housing Lakefront sends asset management staff and real estates development experts to
evaluate the communities and help the community determine where to reinvest (Portfolio
Services, n.d.).
Mercy Housing Lakefront and Public Policy
As a part of Mercy Housing Lakefronts Strategic Plans Public Policy Education and
Advocacy is a major goal (Public Policy Education and Advocay, n.d.). Mercy Housing has five
priorities it would like to accomplish by 2014. The first is Support Tax Incentives, to return
invest capital levels in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit to their pre-recession levels,
especially since this is the time when there is such a great need for a affordable housing. The
second priority is Advocate Proactively for Regulatory and Legislative Changes at HUD and
Federal Banking Agencies. The third priority is Strengthen the Nations Housing Finance
System Including Government Sponsored Enterprise, by contributing to reform proposals. Their
fourth priority is Create Housing and Health Care Linkages, to link health care services to
Mercy Housing Lakefront residents. The fifth priority is Stabilize Comities Severely Affected
by the Foreclosure Crisis through their Mercy Portfolio Services (Public Policy Education and
Advocacy, n.d.).
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Mercy Housing Lakefront Organizational Structure
The staff at Mercy Housing Lakefront works with three core values: respect, justice and
mercy (Vision, Mission, Values, n.d.). Mercy Housing a top staff that oversee the entire Mercy
Housing organization, and staff that handles specific programs within Mercy Housing such as
Public Policy and Advocacy, Real Estate Development and Construction. Staff are also divided
into geographic regions, which each has its own president (Executive Team, n.d.) From there,
each building has in-house staff in charge of property management, case mangers and staff in
charge of the various resident services, such as Tumiel.
Volunteers at Mercy Housing Lakefront
Mercy Housing Lakefront has a relatively small volunteer program. Social work interns
help the case management staff when they have heavy caseloads. There are some volunteer
tutors or fellow tenants who help in the literacy program, and on occasion, corporate volunteers
for distributing welcome packets, chaperoning outings, hosting building dinners and other big
events (E. Tumiel, personal communication, October 3, 2011). For the most part, it seems Mercy
Housing Lakefront utilizes its staff to carry out most of day-to-day functions.
Mercy Housing Lakefront Asset-Mapping
Mercy Housing, as a whole, offers across the country, are also available at Mercy
Housing Lakefront, which makes it practical to focus on the assets of Mercy Housing Lakefront
since that is the organization I have first-hand experience with. Through working with Mercy
Housing Lakefront for over the past month, I have noticed that Mercy Housing and specifically,
Mercy Housing Lakefront have a multitude of assets that it provides to the residents at their
supportive housing units.
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Personnel: Mercy Housing has case managers at each site to assists residents in hardships they
face economically, socially, or domestically (E.Tumiel, personal communication, September 6,
2011). On site, at Mercy housing Lakefront Harold Washington building, the staff is extremely
dedicated to doing everything they can to serve the residents of the building. Many staff
members, including Tumiel, stay after hours to ensure that all the building and the services they
offer are satisfactory to the residents. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the Uptown
and area and the specific needs of the Harold Washington residences. Additionally, Mercy
Housing is available to assist Mercy Housing Lakefront if any questions or issues arise, so the
staff has a strong network of support. They have a diverse staff with an expertise in a variety of
areas such as finance, leadership development and building maintenance staff ( E.Tumiel,
personal communication, September 6, 2011).
Constituents: The residents of Mercy Housing Lakefront are active in the community, as can be
seen in the Tenant Leadership program. Like Mercy Housing Lakefront staff, the residents are
also diverse and are active in pursing a variety of different interests in the community and in the
Harold Washington building itself. Additionally, Mercy Housing Lakefront residents are
politically active, in 2008, 70% of them were registered to vote (Facts About Mercy Housing).
Space and Facilities: Mercy Housing Lakefront has a variety of spaces that are open to
residents. Most common, is the meeting rooms used to hold the tenant leadership meetings. Also,
some buildings in the Chicago area have community gardens for the residents. Specific meeting
rooms variety from building to building, but they all at least provide a common meeting place for
residents, since it is key in their tenant leadership program (E. Tumiel, personal communication,
September 6, 2011).
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Expertise: Mercy Housing Lakefront provides residents with GED and literacy classes, and job
training. Additionally, art classes are provided for residents at the Harold Washington building.
On occasion, Mercy Housing Lakefront has guest speakers or volunteers hold sessions on
financial literacy, healthy eating or a variety of other topics (E. Tumiel, personal communication,
September 6, 2011).
Networks of Connections: Mercy Housing Lakefront has connections to public officials they
work with to advocate for the rights of their tenants. They also have a connection with Loyola
University Chicago, where they have students in service-learning course complete service or
research for the organization (E. Tumiel, personal communication, September 6, 2011). Mercy
Housing also has a partnership with Catholic Sisters who are dedicated to combat homelessness
and assisting in tenant leadership in a few communities (Partnering With Those In Need, n.d.).
Materials and Equipment: The offices of the staff at Mercy Housing Lakefront are fully
furnished with computers, offices supplies and furniture in order for the staff to be easily able to
perform their job functions. The apartments of the tenants in Mercy Housing Lakefront buildings
are furnished with Energy Star-certified appliances to reduce the cost of monthly bills to the
residents (Preserving Communities, n.d.).
Economic Power: As stated before, Mercy Housing Lakefront offers job-training opportunities
to residents. Mercy Housing Lakefront also employs some of the residents to help in the office,
as I saw on my September 27, 2011 visit to the Harold Washington building.Mercy Housing is a
non-profit 501(c)3 organization which allows them to receive certain tax incentives. Mercy
Housing also accepts donations to help fund many programs.
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