News

  • HOM Executive Director Joins Home Start Board of Directors

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    Housing on Merit’s Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak, has joined the Home Start Board of Directors to support the agency’s commitment to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to provide evidence-based family strengthening services.  The Board represents a diverse background of professionals and experts in their field, who have a passion for strengthening families and communities in San Diego and beyond.  Board members also serve on select committees to provide financial oversight and governance, supporting strategic planning, developing policies and assisting with fundraising.  In 2018, Home Start served over 28,000 families in San Diego and surrounding counties.

  • Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers

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    Housing on Merit has been a member of Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) since 2016.  HAND is a nonprofit membership association comprised of over 350 organizations working across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to collaborate in the production and preservation of affordable housing in the Capital Region of Baltimore, Washington and Richmond.  HOM supports HAND’s mission of convening a professional community of housing providers to increase the supply of affordable housing in the Washington metropolitan area, and we are involved in HAND’s Braintrust Committee, which is comprised of emerging leaders that support the implementation of programming as part of the GenerationHAND initiative.  To date, HOM has co-developed 653 units of affordable housing in Washington, D.C.

  • 4th Annual Fair Housing Conference

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    Manuel Pastor, Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at USC and Director of USC’s Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE), speaks at the 4th Annual Housing Conference on April 4.

    Housing on Merit has long been a vocal advocate for residents of affordable housing communities.  Our Planning & Programming Coordinator, Vivian Preciado, recently attended the 4th Annual Fair Housing Conference, which brought together fair housing practitioners, policy makers, housing advocates and developers, community leaders, and top experts to discuss fair housing discrimination issues and solutions.  Keynote speaker Manuel Pastor, Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at USC and Director of USC’s Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE), challenged participants to consider fair housing and cross-over issues as opportunities to innovate and improve our communities from within.  Council President Georgette Gomez officially declared April as Fair Housing Month in San Diego, and acknowledged the ongoing affordable housing crisis and the need to include residents when discussing solutions.

  • 2019 Women Making History Awards

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    Recipients of the 2019 Women Making History Awards include (from left) former United States Senator from Maine, the Honorable Olympia J. Snowe; Gracie and multiple Emmy Award-Winning advocate, activist, philanthropist and an internationally acclaimed home life expert Sandra Lee; and former President of Spelman College and Bennett College. and former Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Ph.D.

    Housing on Merit’s Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak, attended the 2019 Women Making History Awards in Washington, D.C., on April 3.  The event was organized by the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) to further its mission of telling stories of women who transformed the nation by growing a state-of-the-art online presence and a physical museum to educate, inspire and empower.  Ms. Litwak, recognized as an innovator within the affordable housing industry, joined other accomplished women from various fields to honor three women who have made extraordinary accomplishments.  This year’s award recipients are former United States Senator from Maine, the Honorable Olympia J. Snowe; Gracie and multiple Emmy Award-Winning advocate, activist, philanthropist and an internationally acclaimed home life expert Sandra Lee; and former President of Spelman College and Bennett College, and former Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Ph.D.

  • HOM Support of HAN Legislative Choices

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    Housing on Merit is a longtime member of the Hunger Advocacy Network (HAN), that has announced its support for AB 842 (Limon/Eggman) – Hunger-Free Preschool.  This bill would ensure that all low-income children in public preschool have access to nutritious and free or reduced-price meals, using funds available from existing child nutrition programs.  As a provider of resident services to low-income youth at our affordable housing communities, HOM understands the significant correlation between hunger and the ability for youth to focus in school.  According to the San Diego Hunger Coalition’s 2015-2016 Benchmark Baseline Report entitled “Hunger Free Kids,” a shocking 1 in 5 kids lack consistent access to adequate nutrition in San Diego County.  This can have devastating effects on children’s health, development and ability to learn.

     

  • 2019 Resident Services Training Series

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    Housing on Merit empowers residents in our communities by developing meaningful resident services programming with resident input and goals in mind, and by building strong community partnerships.  As part of our commitment to be leaders in quality resident services programming within the affordable housing industry, HOM’s Planning & Programming Coordinator, Vivian Preciado, is participating in the San Diego Housing Federation’s 2019 Resident Services Support Network’s (RSSN) Training Series.  The RSSN provides resident services professionals educational forums, networking opportunities and peer learning, and the Training Series offers workshops on relevant topics, such as immigration services and relief options.

  • HOM Attends HAN’s Legislative Breakfast

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    Congresswoman Susan Davis speaks at the Hunger Advocacy Network’s (HAN) Legislative Breakfast on March 22.

    Housing on Merit has been a long-standing member of the Hunger Advocacy Network (HAN) and the San Diego Hunger Coalition.  In a show of support to end hunger in San Diego County, Housing on Merit’s Planning & Programming Coordinator, Vivian Preciado, attended HAN’s Legislative Breakfast on March 22.  The annual event was attended by legislators, staff, and like-minded organizations who advocate for better policies statewide that will reduce hunger.  Food insecurity is a significant issue in San Diego, where there the affordable housing crisis often forces working and military families to make difficult choices.  This year’s speakers included Congresswoman Susan Davis and representatives from Feeding San Diego, the San Diego Food Bank and Jewish Family Service of San Diego.

  • Executive Director Wins Gamechanger Award

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    Housing on Merit’s Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak, was honored to win the Gamechanger Award at the Women of Influence Awards on March 20.  The Gamechanger Award recognizes women who make significant contributions to their industry with a track record of change, innovation and accomplishments.  Ms. Litwak has successfully managed the closing of over $283 million in multifamily acquisitions, and overseen the development, preservation and renovation of over 2,500 affordable housing units nationwide.  The awards ceremony was presented by the Connected Women of Influence Association in celebration of Women’s History Month and to recognize women leading the way in business, industry and enterprise, along with the organizations and individuals that champion women leaders.

  • CREW Network Scholarship Selection Committee

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    Housing on Merit’s Executive Director, Jennifer Litwak, was recently selected to join the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network’s 2019 Scholarship Selection Committee, an exclusive community that provides members an opportunity to access committee resources and network with other successful business leaders.  Each year the Committee is responsible for identifying CREW Network Foundation scholars to be recommended to the CREW Network Board of Directors.  In 2019 the CREW Network will award 20 academic scholarships totaling $100,000.

    Application deadline for 2019 scholarships is April 30, 2019.  Women currently enrolled as full-time junior, senior or graduate students and interested in learning more about this scholarship program are encouraged to review application guidelines at https://crewnetwork.org/foundation/college-scholarships.

    Ms. Litwak is also an appointed member of CREW Network’s Member Education Committee and serves on CREW San Diego’s Board of Directors as a Foundation Delegate.  CREW Network membership has grown to 11,000 worldwide and in more than 70 major markets, and is one way that Housing on Merit continues to expand its nationwide exposure and share its impact in the affordable housing marketplace.

  • 19th Annual Dr. Seuss Spring Read-In

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    As part of Housing on Merit’s commitment to community outreach our Planning & Program Coordinator, Vivian Preciado, attended the Lawyers Club of San Diego’s 19th Annual Dr. Suess Spring Read-In at Central Elementary School in San Diego on March 1.  Ms. Preciado and a host of other professionals brought Dr. Seuss books to read to classes, and encouraged children to read aloud excerpts from the books.  Central Elementary is a pre-k through 5th grade public school with a culturally diverse student body who are among San Diego’s most disadvantaged.