Three Sacramento nonprofits recently received grants from Umpqua Bank through its Joy of Giving campaign on Facebook. Mutual Housing California was awarded $5,000. Women’s Empowerment was granted $2,000 and Roseville Home Start $1,000. On November 20, Umpqua Bank asked people to post comments about local nonprofits on its Facebook page. The campaign ran through December 16. Nominated nonprofits had to be located within Umpqua Bank’s four-state territory—Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. Mutual Housing staff posted the campaign to its Facebook page on November 27. Executive Director Rachel Iskow sent out an email asking people to respond. The bank selected 25 nonprofits to sha

On Saturday afternoon, Sacramento Kings joined with Nokia Siemens Networks and Verizon Wireless to give away 200 holiday dinners for local families at Sleep Train Arena. Twenty-five Mutual Housing California families were among the recipients of the traditional turkey dinners that serve six to eight people. Mutual Housing community organizers worked with property management staff to identify the families who would need dinners the most this holiday season. Families had to be on available the day of the event and have transportation. Latrise James, a resident at River Garden Estates Mutual Housing Community, and her family were grateful recipients. “It was a blessing having help in my ti

Mutual Housing at the Highlands, a 90-apartment community in North Highlands, has been nominated by the Sacramento Business Journal for their 2011-2012 Real Estate Projects award. Winners will be announced September 21. Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association’s 16th community is one of 17 projects chosen as finalists for the award. Projects such as Sacramento International Airport Terminal B, UC Davis West Village and the California State Lottery Headquarters also were nominated. “We are honored to be included with these other amazing projects,” said Rachel Iskow, Mutual Housing’s executive director. “The nominee list makes clear that in spite of a grueling economy, many dedicated rea

Students learned about money when Cathay Bank and Golden 1 Credit Union representatives recently gave workshops to young residents at two Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association communities. Called “How Money Works”, Cathay Bank’s workshops focused on understanding the value of money, where it comes from, learning to use it and save it. The classes for children five to 11 years lasted four weeks. “We wanted to make sure the kids have a role model to look up to when they think about money,” said Danny Vuong, Cathay Bank Sacramento Assistant Vice-President and Branch Manager. “Of course they have a lot of fun, but we are trying to give kids more tools so when they actually handle financ

Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association recently hired Fernando Cibrian as the Lead Community Organizer. In that position, he will oversee community organizing, community building and leadership development in Sacramento and Yolo counties. Cibrian was formerly with the PICO National Network and PICO California (PICO) where he focused on creating policy campaigns to improve living conditions for low- and moderate-income families. At PICO he also helped organize the network’s voter development strategy. Cibrian has a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Pomona, and 18 years experience as a community organizer. He is a former board member of the Santa Ana Federal Empowe

Mindy Romero recently was appointed to the City of Davis Social Services Commission to fill a vacancy on the eight-member board. When her term ends in September, Romero hopes to get re-appointed for a full three-year term. The Davis resident also was appointed to the Yolo County Community Services Action Board. She will serve a four-year term on that board. Both boards help administer federal community block grants.As part of the 15-member Yolo County board, Romero also will help create a community services action plan for the region. “We are pleased to appoint Mindy Romero to the Community Services Action Board,” said Don Saylor, Yolo County Supervisor District 2. “Yolo County will ben

Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association recently was chosen to lead the Corporation for Enterprise Development’s (CFED) new Assets and Opportunity Network in the local area. “Participation in this network allows us to work with other communities and take advantage of information on asset-building and ways to promote resident financial stability,” said Amy Williamson, Mutual Housing’s Special Projects Coordinator. As the local lead for the network, Mutual Housing and their partners will continue offer financial workshops at their 16 communities in Sacramento and Yolo County. Some of the partners are Golden 1 and Roseville Bank of Commerce as well as Bank of the West, SAFE Credit Union

On Saturday, June 2nd, 50 local neighbors and residents started building a fence for the River Gardens Mutual Housing Community garden plots. Volunteers from Boy Scouts of America Troop 122 also helped. To keep everyone going,  the Health Education Council brought their people-powered “smoothie bike” that made treats for the day-long event. “We also had a resident DJ during the lunch break,” said Brandon Louie, Mutual Housing community organizer. “Despite the extreme heat, we had a great mix of people working all day long and hope to have the 900-ft. fence finished by the end of the week.” “Mutual Housing does so much good for Sacramento that it’s always a pleasure to be part of their e

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 C

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 leaders

Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association recently hired Ryan Chin as Operations Manager. At Mutual Housing, he will oversee human resource, risk management, contracts administration, computer networks and systems, and office management. He also will play an integral role in organizational development of the nonprofit and be a member of Mutual Housing’s management team. Chin was formerly California State University, Sacramento, Publications’ Director where he managed the publications for the university, including the online version of Sac State Magazine as well as materials for the colleges and departments. As an Associate Director of Marketing at Stanford University, he promoted the St

With lenders tightening credit and the housing market still in flux, renters and homeowners are finding it hard to find an affordable place to live. Because funding is at all-time lows, nonprofit developers of multi-family and for-sale housing are looking for new ways to finance communities for people of modest means. Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association is no exception. The recent introduction of California bills like the HOMeS Act (Senate Bill 1220) could help. Introduced by Mark DeSaulnier (C-Concord) and Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) as well as co-author Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) on the Assembly side, the bill would generate an estimated $700 million

City Councilman Kevin McCarty recently sponsored a resolution honoring local volunteers during National Mentoring Month. President and CEO Rhonda Staley-Brooks accepted for the nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters. Program Manager Emily Bender represented the South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders (SSCFL). Mary Lynn Perry, City of Sacramento Volunteer Coordinator, also was given one for her work. “Mentoring youth is so important to our city,” said McCarty, who represents District 6. “For some youth, a mentor might be the only adult in their life who is listening, guiding and helping them to achieve their hopes and dreams.” Mentoring helps youth: • Boost communication skills and sel

Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association recently was chosen as a finalist for the Inspire Giving award, a program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce that encourages civic-minded leadership, volunteerism and philanthropic giving. The other finalists are Raft, Roseville Home Start, Seniors First and Soil Born Farms. Mutual Housing develops and operates permanently affordable housing in Sacramento and Yolo county that builds strong and stable communities through resident participation and leadership development. With more than 900 homes, it serves some 2,700 low- to moderate-income residents, half of whom are children. Raft helps educators transform the learning experience thro

For families barely making ends meet, holidays are a difficult time. Many parents at Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing communities are having a hard time providing gifts for their children this year. “This time of year can be especially trying for parents in our communities,” said Rachel Iskow, Executive Director of Mutual Housing. "In fact, half of Mutual Housing's 2600 residents are children." People can help by dropping off non-perishable food and new, unwrapped children’s gifts at the Mutual Housing office, 8001 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento 95820 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Thursday, December 22nd. “We will make sure your donation gets to a family right away,” sa

Two years ago, Camellia Waldorf School’s Winter Faire was hit by something unexpected: rain. It flooded the parking lots, turned a dry creek into a creek and threatened the good spirits of the day. Participants shifted into the school for cover, while vendors put up their canopies and served hot chocolate and soup. Despite the rain, it was one of the busiest fairs that school has hosted, with reportedly 1,000 visitors. “It didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s feelings,” event co-chair Sarah Rucker said. “It’s a reflection of the norm at Waldorf School. If it were snowing, we’d still have a blast.” This year, the Winter Faire began under a cloudless sky on Saturday, December 10th, on the school

Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association celebrated the grand opening of the Highlands yesterday. The celebration included tours of the 90-apartment community and a ceremony honoring Darrell Steinberg, State Senate President Pro Tem and author of the California Mental health Services Act (Proposition 63) that provides partial operating support for the development. Located on a 3.5-acre parcel in the McClellan Redevelopment Area, the Highlands has 66 efficiency apartments for formerly homeless people and 12 studio apartments and 12 three-bedroom ones for people of modest means. The complex has a community room and kitchen, a computer lab and conference room as well as offices for staff.

Rich Ciraulo has been hired as the Director of Asset Management by Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association. In this role, he is responsible for planning and monitoring the operations and financial performance of Mutual Housing’s 15 regional communities. Ciraulo will handle acquisitions, refinancing and rehabilitation to preserve the portfolio as well as develop and maintain investor and lender relationships. He also will implement long-term strategies to improve performance that meets the nonprofit’s goals. Prior to joining Mutual Housing, Ciraulo was a Senior Project Manager at Mercy Housing California. At Mercy, he oversaw the planning, financing, design and construction of their mix

Sacramento, CA – August 18, 2011. Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association recently was awarded a $450,000 grant to add green elements to the rehabilitation of a local housing community, Mutual Housing at Norwood. Mutual Housing is one of 115 local NeighborWorks organizations to receive $34.9 million in Capital Funding for the Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing (CFRAH) grants. “Rehabilitating and maintaining rental property in the Sacramento area is one of our goals,” said Rachel Iskow, Mutual Housing Association’s Executive Director. “Receiving this grant will help us with the ongoing restorations we are doing in our communities.” “Sacramento Mutual Housing Association is dedicated

Mindy Romero has been appointed the new chair of the board of directors Sacramento|Yolo Mutual Housing Association. She replaces Greg Chew, who remains on the board. A researcher at the Center for Regional Change, University of California, Davis, Romero also is a doctoral candidate in the UCD Department of Sociology. Romero has been on the board for the past three years and was with the Yolo Mutual Housing Association’s board before the two nonprofits affiliated. She lives in Davis. Mutual Housing develops and operates well-designed rental housing for modest-income households. The communities have 2,600 residents, half of whom are children. Through Mutual Housing’s focus on leadership,