Housing on Merit’s Planning & Programming Coordinator, Vivian Preciado, attended MANA de San Diego’s Membership Networking Breakfast in Chula Vista, CA., on May 25.  Miriam Roman, Senior Human Resources Generalist at Community Health Group, was the featured speaker at the event, entitled “How Mentors Can Help You Define Your Own Success.” HOM regularly participates in events such as the Networking Breakfast because they represent opportunities to expand our impact within the resident services industry.  MANA (taken from “Hermana,” the Spanish word for sister) holds events throughout the year to encourage personal and professional growth, provide important networking opportunities, and address concerns and challenges unique to the Latina community.  MANA de San Diego was founded in 1986 as a local chapter of the national Latina organization, MANA National, and is the largest chapter with more than 2,900 members and supporters.  It is an award-winning organization providing educational programs through mentoring, educational financial support, health and wellness, and leadership development workshops.

As part of Housing on Merit’s ongoing efforts to provide and promote quality resident services within the affordable housing industry, Planning & Programming Coordinator, Vivian Preciado, attended the Bullying Across Ages Workshop as part of the San Diego Housing Federation’s 2019 Resident Services Support Network’s (RSSN) Training Series. The workshop provided tools to identify, prevent and respond to bullying for residents of all ages.  It also showcased the characteristics of bullying and the ways bullying presents itself to youth, adults and seniors.  The workshop also provided mediation and healthy communication resources for adult populations.  The RSSN provides resident services professionals with educational forums, networking opportunities and peer learning.  Other 2019 Training Series workshops cover topics such as immigration services and relief options.

HOM’s Planning & Programming Coordinator, Vivian Preciado (fourth from left), joined other advocates to support hunger relief legislation at the California Hunger Action Coalition’s (CHAC) 22nd annual Hunger Action Day in Sacramento.

Housing on Merit has been consistently involved in supporting hunger relief.  Planning & Programming Coordinator, Vivian Preciado, recently attended the California Hunger Action Coalition’s (CHAC) 22^nd annual Hunger Action Day in Sacramento, CA, to fight for meaningful policies and legislation to end hunger. Organizations and advocates from across the state, including the San Diego Hunger Coalition and Feeding San Diego, took part in the event that included legislative visits, rallies and networking to support ending hunger and poverty in California.  Ms. Preciado joined the San Diego Hunger Coalition to meet with staff members for Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and Assemblymember Todd Gloria, advocating for several bills including the CalFresh Shelter Deduction (AB494), CalFresh Connect (SB285) and Hunger-Free Preschool (AB842).  The report entitled “Hunger Free Kids,” developed by the San Diego Hunger Coalition, documents that 1 in 5 children lack consistent access to adequate nutrition in San Diego County and highlights the crucial need for improved policies and new legislation.

Housing on Merit’s Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak, was a featured speaker at the Council of Development Finance Agencies’ (CDFA) Intro Housing Finance WebCourse on May 22.  Attendees were given an introduction to the complex world of housing, and exposed to the terminology and landscape of the housing space in community development.  The course covered a multitude of diverse capital sources within housing deals and innovative case studies from across the country on how investment in an effective housing financing strategy can help drive the success of local economic development.  Ms. Litwak joined an expert panel to examine the numerous and diverse programs available for housing development at the state and local level, and  discuss the programs they                                                                                                                     accessed for their housing projects and how it worked into their overall                                                                                                                         financing structure.

Parkside Villa Apartments (top) and Rockwell Manor Apartments (bottom)

Housing on Merit is pleased to announce it has acquired two affordable housing complexes located in Fairfield, CA, in partnership with Standard Communities.  The acquisition and partnership demonstrates a commitment to bringing communities with high-quality homes that residents can enjoy for generations to come.  The Parkside Villa and Rockwell Manor apartment complexes comprise 128 units and will undergo a $7 million renovation project to upgrade nearly every aspect of the properties, and will do so without displacing residents during the renovation.  “Housing on Merit is eager and excited to participate in the preservation of much needed affordable housing for Fairfield residents,” said Jennifer Litwak, Executive Director of HOM. “Parkside Villa and Rockwell Manor will soon be transformed into beautifully updated communities that residents will enjoy and be proud of for many years.”  In addition to overhauling unit interiors and improving energy efficiency, the renovation will modernize building systems, update facades, expand and improve common areas and amenity spaces.  Despite the comprehensive renovation there will be no rent increase for residents.

Mayor Muriel Bowser (center) and Councilmember Vincent Gray cut the ribbon in celebration of the Fort Chaplin Park Apartments preservation project completion in Washington, D.C.

In partnership with Standard Communities, Housing on Merit recently completed an extensive preservation project at their Fort Chaplin Park Apartments in Washington, D.C.  The project completion was celebrated with a ribbon cutting event attended by Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember Vincent Gray, who lauded the important impact the project will have in the community for decades.  “Housing on Merit is tremendously proud to be a part of such a collaborative effort that will improve the quality of life for hundreds of families residing at the Fort Chaplin Park Apartments,” said Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak.  “Preserving the affordability of these units combined with completing the large community renovation is a unique accomplishment for all of the parties involved.”  The redevelopment project ensures that all 549 units at Fort Chaplin Park Apartments will remain affordable to low- and moderate-income households for the next 30 years.  Standard Communities and Housing on Merit were selected as development partners by the Chaplin Hope Tenant Association, and this project is the largest tax-exempt bond, preservation deal in the District’s history.

Housing on Merit’s Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak, was a featured speaker at the 31st Annual Real Property, Trust and Estate (RPTE) National Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Conference in Boston on May 9-10.  The event featured the nation’s leading experts discussing the latest developments in real estate and trust, and estate law.  Ms. Litwak joined a panel of experts to discuss the function of Opportunity Zones.  They presented case studies, considered the effect of additional regulations, reviewed revenue procedures, and discussed program viability through 2026.  The panel also analyzed the benefits of Opportunity Zones from a tax, economic development, lender and treasury official perspective.  The RPTE is a leading national forum for lawyers consisting of 25,000 members.  The Real Property Division focuses on legal aspects of property use, ownership, development, transfer, regulation, financing, taxation and disposal.  The Trust and Estate Division focuses on all aspects of trusts, estate planning, employee benefits, insurance, and probate and trust litigation.  The RPTE is a member group of the American Bar Association (ABA).

Housing on Merit’s Housing Innovation Coordinator, Charly Ligety, attended the Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing’s (SCANPH) inaugural affordable housing debate in Los Angeles on May 9.  The event, “Room for Debate: Affordable Housing Hot Topics,” featured experts in affordable housing to debate the controversial affordable housing topics of inclusionary housing, rent control, and local vs. state control.  SCANPH’s Executive Director, Alan Greenlee, moderated the spirited debate of these complex topics that led to numerous opposing viewpoints but also highlighted several areas of agreement among the debate participants that included Rick Jacobus, Principal of Street Level Advisors; Mott Smith, Co-founder of Civic Enterprise; Becky Dennison, Executive Director of Venice Community Housing; Stuart Waldman, President of Valley Industry Commerce Association; Rick Cole, Santa Monica City Manager; and Anya Lawler, Policy Advocate at the Western Center on Law & Poverty.

Housing on Merit’s Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak, has been nominated to become a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). The global honorary society consists of lawyers, judges, law faculty and legal scholars who have made significant contributions to society through outstanding leadership within their profession.  The ABF has become recognized as a leading institute for interdisciplinary research in law and social science by addressing critical questions on a myriad of issues including law and health, the social costs of mass incarceration, diversity and equal justice, legal education, law and globalization, and the impact of early childhood education.  The ABF is limited to one percent of lawyers practicing in the United States and its research impacts the legal profession, policy and the entire justice system.  By providing support for the ABF, Ms. Litwak will be helping to advance justice and the understanding of law.

Housing on Merit is proud to announce it has extended its reach in the affordable housing industry to the Midwest by acquiring Michaelmas Manor Apartments in partnership with BLVD Capital.  The affordable housing complex, located in Toledo, OH, consists of 94 units affordable to low-income seniors and people with disabilities.  The complex includes a business center, community game room, two community rooms and two community libraries.  “Housing on Merit is excited and proud to expand our work to preserve affordable housing to include residents of Toledo,” said Jennifer Litwak, Executive Director of HOM.  “Michaelmas Manor offers residents modern facilities specifically tailored to their needs.”