Sacramento Housing Alliance recently gave Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association the Community Development Award for its work on Mutual Housing at the Highlands.

Mutual Housing received the award partially because the 90-apartment complex took nine years to build. Securing funding from the public and private sector—as well as creating partnerships with other local nonprofits to supply the onsite support services for the homeless residents of the community—created particularly difficult challenges for the local nonprofit developer.

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

Jones also noted that Mutual Housing “does more than build quality housing for families. They also develop resident leadership skills through their organizing program.” Jones was on the Mutual Housing board of directors.

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

Chet Hewitt, Sierra Health Foundation President and CEO, was given the Community Partner Award.

Other honorees this year were:
• Attorneys Mark Merin, Cathleen Willams and Ron Blubaugh, Homeless Justice Award, and
• Cindy Cavanaugh, Nancy Conk, Chris Glaudel, Greg Sparks and Mona Tawatao, SHA supporters, the Change Makers Award for their commitment to the cause.

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://www.mutualhousing.com.

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://sachousingalliance.org.