On Thursday, May 24, Mutual Housing at the Highlands received the Community Development Award from the Sacramento Housing Alliance for its work on Mutual Housing at the Highlands. To secure funding for the Highlands, which includes onsite support services for the homeless residents, took nine years.

“That this development got built is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Mutual Housing, its staff and board,” said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, when he presented the award.

A former Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association board of director, Jones also noted that Mutual Housing “does more than build quality housing for families. They also develop resident leadership skills through their organizing program.”

The Housing Alliance award recognized this unique community for the:
• partnership with service providers that created a supportive environment for formerly homeless individuals and families,
• decade-long struggle to build this innovative housing program,
• contribution this development made to the revitalization of the McClellan redevelopment area,
• high-quality design and construction of this green housing that affirms the dignity of the residents and
• increasing need of affordable housing in a region where more than half the renters cannot afford market rates.

Other honorees this year were:
• Attorneys Mark Merin, Cathleen Willams and Ron Blubaugh, Homeless Justice Award,
• Chet Hewitt, Sierra Health Foundation President and CEO, Community Partner Award, http://www.sierrahealth.org and
• Cindy Cavanaugh, Nancy Conk, Chris Glaudel, Greg Sparks and Mona Tawatao, SHA supporters, the Change Makers Award for their commitment to the cause.

Through advocacy, education, leadership development and civic engagement, the Sacramento Housing Alliance works for safe and decent, accessible and affordable housing as well as healthy communities for homeless and low-income people For more information, visit http://http://sachousingalliance.org.

Founded in 1988, Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association develops and operates well-designed rental housing for modest-income households. The communities have 2,750 residents.

Through Mutual Housing’s focus on leadership, the nonprofit also provides training and mentoring as well as educational programs, community-building activities and services for residents and neighbors. For more information, visit http://http://www.mutualhousing.com.