• RPTE National CLE Conference

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    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).

  • SCANPH Affordable Housing Debate

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    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.

  • Executive Director Nominated As ABF Fellow

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    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.

  • HOM Acquires Affordable Housing Complex in Toledo, OH

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    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.”

  • 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.

  • 2019, Quarter 1

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  • 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.