Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL) is the Midwest's premier non-profit developer of affordable and supportive housing. More than 1,000 single adults and nearly 450 families call one of MHLs 15 properties home. MHL is one of six regional business centers that comprise Mercy Housing Inc., the nation's largest non-profit developer of affordable housing. Including Chicago, Mercy Housing has developed nearly 19,000 affordable homes and has an additional 7,315 homes in pre-development, construction or concept phases. Other markets served by Mercy Housing include Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. MHLs residents come from multiple backgrounds. They include individuals with physical disabilities who became homeless after losing a job. Others are single mothers who work hard to make ends meet and to care for their children. Many struggle with mental illness and substance problems, often in combination. Almost two-thirds were previously homeless. About 80% have annual incomes below $8,000. All residents share at least one experience: before moving to MHL they lacked the economic resources necessary to access quality, safe housing. Each MHL property provides individuals and families with a supportive living environment. Case managers lead on-site programs that teach new life skills, such as how to manage a personal budget and find employment. Property managers promote timely rent payment and the proper care and maintenance of ones apartment. Together this team helps tenants to resolve personal crises that might otherwise lead to eviction. This Blended Management approach to housing and services delivery has made MHL a nationally recognized leader in its field. Our model is frequently adopted by other housing providers who seek MHL's counsel and expertise. The need for safe, quality affordable housing for homeless adults, working families and low-income seniors has never been greater. According to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Cook County will lose 38,000 units of affordable rental housing by 2020. In the Fox River Valley and other suburban areas, it is increasingly difficult for low and moderate income families to find housing close to their place of employment. MHL has the experience necessary to play a leading role in addressing this crisis and received numerous awards for the quality of the housing it develops. In 2007, MHL's Margot and Harold Schiff Residences was voted the best new special needs project by the readers of Affordable Housing Finance Magazine. In February 2008, the Wentworth Commons Apartments was honored by the Fannie Mae Foundation Maxwell Awards committee for innovation in housing for homeless families.

The mission of Mercy Housing Lakefront is to create stable, vibrant, and healthy communities by developing, financing and operating affordable, program-enriched housing for families, seniors and people with special needs.

Mercy Housing Lakefront has many housing development projects in the pipeline. Our expanded resources mean that more affordable and supportive housing will be built in the City and Fox River Valley. The types of housing development opportunities we pursue are: Affordable housing preservation, Supportive housing for adults and families, Senior assisted living, and homeownership. Mercy Housing Lakefront believes that it takes much more than a roof to help people reach their full potential. We provide the following on-site supportive services: 1) Employment training programs 2) Computer literacy classes, 3) Financial literacy workshops, 4) Adult education, 5) Children's after-school activities, 6) Support and recovery groups and 7) Leadership development. We are experts at managing our properties. Property management and supportive services teams work together to satisfy the double-bottom line of keeping our residents housed and our buildings in strong financial and physical order.