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Catalogue for Philanthropy again names Mi Casa
"One of the Best"
charities in DC |
Donate Online
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Board of Directors
Jonathan Cohn, President Maurice Perry, Vice President Holly Lennihan, Secretary Gilberto Cardenas, Treasurer
Megan Glasheen, Member Tamara King, Member Zixta Martinez, Member Staff Fernando Lemos, Executive Director Ellen Zurbrigg, Deputy Director Judy Meima, Multi-family Program Director Juan Pablo Vacatello, Multi-family Program Associate Juan Cardona, Multi-family Program Associate Cheryl Davis, Operations Manager
Raquel Martinez, Multi-family Program/Admin Assistant
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Mi Casa KeyNOTES
An e-newsletter with news and information from Mi Casa, Inc.
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Fall 2010 |
 Greetings!
As
President of Mi Casa's Board of Directors, I am pleased to report that
the organization has persevered through one of the most difficult
economic periods in our nearly 20 year history. Mi Casa's strength
lies with the commitment of its staff - and we are very fortunate to
have in place a group of highly devoted and skilled people. However, as
the national economic recovery remains fragile, the demand for quality
affordable housing continues to rise. To meet this dual challenge, the
Board will continue to support Mi Casa through its management and
staff and, in consultation with community partners, to deliver our core
services. The guidance and input from our support network continues to
have a great impact on the services we deliver. On behalf of the Board,
I would like to acknowledge all the community support we have received
over the last year. We look forward to strengthening and expanding
these relationships as we work to grow our financial resources while
continuing to deliver housing and economic stability to the individuals
and families we serve.
And as you begin to plan your End of Year Giving, please think of Mi Casa. We depend on your support.
-- Jonathan Cohn, Board President |
Key Achievements & Outcomes
-- Increased affordable housing stock in the District and Baltimore by developing 463 affordable cooperative and condo units
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Improved the sustainability of 11 limited equity coops in the District
through home ownership education and housing development training
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Developed and implemented post-development training in Spanish and
English on cooperative homeownership and housing development as well as
improved financial, management and leadership skills of coop members
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Marked completion in the District's Home Again Program with the
renovation and sale of a single-family home in the Trinidad
neighborhood; this was the last of 11 houses rehabilitated and sold
through this program.
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Green Roofs Top Ivy City Condos
Construction
is complete on Phase I Ivy City Green View condos -- 8 one and two
bedroom units (one fully handicapped accessible) ready for sale. The
homes are all highly energy efficient, Energy Star rated, with
innovative green roofs and roof top patios, the latter thanks to funding
from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Home Depot and LISC. Ground
landscaping was accomplished with help from Campbell and Ferrara, which donated plants, and Freddie Mac volunteers, who put them in the ground. Other community partners included Studio39, which donated design work, and Hamel Builders and Childs Landscape Contractors,
which donated other landscaping material. In keeping with Mi Casa's
commitment to environmental responsibility, the project's landscaping
uses native ground cover provided by Nature by Design at
a discount. The Green View Condominiums are part of a neighborhood-wide
redevelopment in Ivy City. They are priced from $95,000; closing cost
assistance is available. For more information, visit www.robertsburkegroup.com or call our office at 202-722-7423.
Baltimore Phase 1 Complete
Phase 1 of Mi Casa's first affordable rental project wrapped up
this year with the rehabilitation of ten very affordable units in
Johnston Square, a low income primarily African American neighborhood
in East Baltimore. The project is being carried out in conjunction with
Baltimore City Housing as part of the city's redevelopment strategy.
Design development for Phase 2, which will involve new construction of
30 for-sale single family homes and condos, is already underway.
Piloting a Partnership for The Heights
Working
in partnership with the Neighborhood Development Company, a private
real estate development company, Mi Casa moved ahead this year with
pre-development of a first in our portfolio: a sustainable, mixed use
affordable rental project. The Heights, which is located at Georgia
& Lamont Avenues in Columbia Heights, will have 70 affordable rental
units and ground floor retail; at least half of the units will be
priced for households earning between 50% and 80% AMI. Look for us to
break ground in 2011.
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Project Highlight: Quest Cooperative
 Mi
Casa completed renovation of this 23-unit building, converted from
rental to cooperative, preventing the displacement of many low-income
Columbia Heights residents. The building now boasts energy efficient
systems, new community space and storage.
Many coop members are long-time residents, like Frances Beeks, a native Washingtonian who had lived there for nearly 40 years when she learned the building was going  to
be sold. "My heart went down to my feet." she says. "The building is
like a family, everyone knows each other. If Mi Casa hadn't come, who
knows what would have happened. Turning the building into a cooperative
kept it affordable and meant I could stay here."
This
year, the coop underwent a big transition as the founding board
president bought a single-family home and moved out. Thanks to extensive
management and leadership training by Mi Casa, a strong and committed
board remains in place.
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New Homes for Ivy City Planned for 2011
 Plans
are underway for construction of seven new affordable homes in Ivy City
during the upcoming year. The single-family project joins Mi Casa's
recently completed condos as part of the District's redevelopment
strategy for the Ward 5 neighborhood. The project will include large 3, 4
and 5 bedroom homes, some with the option of an in-law suite for
extended family or rental income. The new homes will be highly energy efficient, meeting Energy Star and Enterprise Green Communities criteria. Prices are anticipated to range between $198,000 and $215,000. Financial
support for development comes from City First Bank as well as the DC
Department of Housing and Community Development, which will invest
Neighborhood Stabilization Program and HOMES funds in the project.
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Freddie Mac Volunteers Team Up with Mi Casa
Freddie
Mac employees have had a persistent presence at Mi Casa project sites
this year, lending their time and talents to help residents with
projects their coops could otherwise not afford to take on. Throug h
the Home Team Program, Freddie Mac employees came armed with paint
brushes, brooms, rakes and shovels to projects in Ivy City, Brightwood,
and Capitol Heights/DC. Helping others is clearly a part of the company
culture. Mi Casa is fortunate to have Freddie Mac's support in the form
of financial as well as human resources.
If your company is looking for an employee volunteer project, please contact Ricky at ricky@micasa-inc.org and let us know your interests.
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Thank You to Our Major Donors for 2009 and 2010
Abell Foundation Bank of America Capital One Chicanos Por La Causa
City First Bank
Community Development Support Collaborative
DC Department of Housing and Community Development DC Office of Latino Affairs
Enterprise Community Partners Fannie Mae Corporation Freddie Mac Corporation Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors/GCAAR
Hispanics in Philanthropy/HIP
Howard University Center for Urban Progress
InterAmerican Development Bank - DC Solidarity Program John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation
Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Washington DC Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
Neighborhood Development Corporation LLC
PNC Bank Somerset Development Co LLC United Planning Organization Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation David B. Wiley
Women in Housing and Finance
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Audited Financials 2009 
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