May 9, 2024

Shelly Marquez | Mercy Housing Mountain Plains

WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?

It’s not only new production of affordable housing, it’s what we are doing to preserve existing affordable housing. What does our existing portfolio look like and how do we continue to preserve it so that decent, affordable housing is available that individuals want to call home? The other impact we’re making is providing service-enriched housing. We focus on bringing programming at the property level to residents who call Mercy Housing home. That programming allows them to address five program areas: health and wellness, housing success, financial well-being, after-school time, and community engagement. When you’re able to bring programming like that to a property and help residents not only get housed but address some of the other needs, they’re staying in a house long-term because of the education and training the resident service team is bringing to individuals. The impact on the financial well-being side is helping them think about their finances differently and understand their credit. We connect them with partners who will help them with budgeting and asset-building tools. People’s lives are changed. We’re able to break generational cycles of poverty by bringing needed programming to a property.

WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO DO THIS WORK?

Once you grasp the demand for housing as we do, which extends beyond Colorado to encompass the entire U.S., it becomes clear that every person deserves a place they can truly call home. For me, that’s the inspiration. Seeing the work that Mercy Housing is doing, creating a place where seniors, families, and individuals can say, “This is my home,” that’s what inspires me. Because I’ve been in this work, I’ve seen the impact that housing can have on individuals. Getting them a house is the first step, and then the real work begins by providing those wraparound services and really connecting them to much-needed resources.

WHAT’S YOUR VISION, YOUR BIG DREAM FOR THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?

When you look at the housing gap in Colorado, at how many folks need to be housed it’s pretty significant. Mercy Housing is playing a leadership role by doing our part to develop affordable housing and bring those wraparound services and we’re advocating for the much-needed funding to be able to build more affordable housing.

Our dream is that we continue to be a leader in this space and have an impact in the communities where we have existing developments and where we’re looking to grow. We’re able to be that thought leader in many of the communities. It’s not just that we’re doing it alone, because when you think about affordable housing it’s a number of partners coming together. It takes so many additional sources of funding, it’s a community coming together to address the need. My vision is that we can strengthen our partnerships and continue to have an impact and grow where the demand and need are. I want us to be able to build on this work so that, when we look at this 20 years from now, we know that we’ve had a significant impact on the affordable housing community.

WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING?

I would say there are a number of challenges. First, you have advocacy on the legislative front. When you look at all the housing bills that are presented today, we’re constantly advocating for the funding and resources needed, not only nationally, but at state and local levels. Because of those limited resources, it’s a very competitive space with for-profit and nonprofit developers. We may want to build three or four new developments, but there’s a process in place for different tax credits. So, although the need is there, funding challenges continue to be one of the issues, as well as the political will in communities if we have to go through rezoning. On the resident service side, we fundraise for most of the resident service programming separately. But that’s such an important aspect of our work. Being able to have a viable source of grant funding to support resident service programming is another area that we continue to explore by applying for grants and various other programs.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CAUSE AND/OR THE WORK YOU’RE DOING?

Sometimes there are stereotypes about affordable housing. When you can provide that service-enrichment aspect along with affordable housing, the impact you can have on an individual, family, or senior it’s significant. It’s not just getting people housing, but it’s trying to help educate them. It’s working with them. It’s helping connect them to resources so that they have a glimpse of hope. They recognize that they don’t have to try to figure this out on their own or navigate a system they’re not familiar with. They know they’ve got a partner or a team that can help them through that process.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE OR WORDS OF INSPIRATION TO SHARE?

My favorite quote comes from Maya Angelou. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.” For me, that means a lot in all walks of life. Wherever you are in that social economic spectrum, it’s important to treat others the way you want to be treated. At the end of the day, it’s giving your time and sharing your resources. I just really believe that it’s important that whoever you’re engaging with and interacting with, take the time and make them feel heard, make them feel valued, and let them know that their voice does matter. Because it does.

HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?

There are a number of ways that you can get involved and engaged with Mercy Housing. Make a donation on our website, and support or sponsor one of our annual fundraising events. There are ways to volunteer and get engaged, whether it’s a corporation looking to have its employees involved or individuals who want to volunteer with us. Additionally, you can advocate on behalf of affordable housing. It’s not so much about Mercy Housing, but the cause of making sure to support affordable housing in every community across the United States.

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