Pub. 4 2019 Issue 3

18 www.ctaahq.org E viction affects more than residents and landlords, it hurts entire communities, but a leading affordable housing nonprofit has found a solution that benefits everyone. A chain reaction happens when someone is evicted — lives are upturned, and not just those of the evictees. The affordable housing industry is working to prevent this — before rather than after — the subpoena is issued. A recent five-year analysis offers nonprofits, policymakers and for-profits steps toward effective preventative measures. To understand this complex issue, experts often look to the affordable housing indus- try because it serves people who are most susceptible. The nation’s largest affordable housing nonprofit, Mercy Housing Inc. (MHI), recently completed a five-year adminis- trative analysis. It spanned their diverse portfolio of properties and discovered valuable insight into eviction prevention. MHI owns 335 properties with more than 25,000 units. They understand that when people have stable housing, they have more money to spend on food and healthcare and their lives become more predictable. With over 35 years’ experience and a presence in 41 states, MHI is a household name in the affordable housing industry and they serve families, veterans and seniors with homes they can afford. The results of this ground-breaking analysis echo the afford- able housing industry’s decades-old mantra: ‘A home is just the beginning.’ Mercy Housing’s CEO and President Jane Graf always says “People need more than four walls and a roof to be successful, they need support to pursue dreams.” MHI pro- vides homes to low-income families in need while offering essential support through a key ingredient — resident services. UNDERSTANDING EVICTION: What Affordable Housing Has Taught Us By Dallas Erwin, Mercy Housing