www.mercedhousingtexas.org Winter 2002/2003

Merced Residents Enjoy Holiday Season Santa visited Merced’s Bellshire Apartments in Con-roe, Texas, via fire truck this past year. He and about 122 residents celebrated Christmas in Bellshire’s new, spacious community room. “We’d been getting prepared for this for the last month and a half,” says Community Director Linda Belk of Domicile Property Management, Inc. In San Antonio, Citibank employees brightened the holidays for 31 Merced resident families through the Adopt-A-Family program. Teams of employees adopted families and fulfilled their wish lists for the holiday sea-son. Volunteers even provided a refrigerator for the Gar-cia family of the Nevada Street neighborhood. The fa-ther is disabled, and they have four children. “I couldn’t keep milk before, because it would spoil. ... I had put up a Christmas tree and hoped for the best. We wouldn’t have had a Christmas if it weren’t for those people who helped us out,” says Esther Garcia. Citibank volunteer Belinda Valero says, “Delivering the gifts was a wonderful moment to experience when love, joy, and giving from the heart were involved. “This should happen year round.” With coordination between Community Director Mi-chelle Worthey of Domicile Property Management, Inc., and Merced Resident Services Coordinator Letty Marti-nez, residents at Elmhurst Place in San Antonio enjoyed

Thanksgiving and Christmas parties. Casitas de Merced in Somerset also had some holiday cheer. As well as Thanksgiving and Christmas parties, the residents were treated to a performance by the Je-sus To You music ensemble. Developed by Merced, Ca-sitas de Merced is an affordable senior community owned by Somerset Senior Housing, Ltd.

Kayla Miller tells Santa her wish list as she and her baby brother, James Barnes sit on Santa’s (Rick Dietz’s) lap at the Bellshire Apartments Christmas party.

Peña Family Puts Down Roots at Stablewood Farms Apartments From the lace curtains to the extensive collection of refrigerator magnets, the Peñas’ Stablewood Farms apartment home in San Antonio radiates warmth. So do the Peñas. Married 30 years, Mary and Enrique met at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. “My mom and I were shopping, and Enrique was working there. We saw each other and just fell in love,” Mary says. They take great pride in their three children’s loyalty and in the closeness of their large extended family. Enrique served in the Navy for 6 years and worked at the commissary at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for 28 years before a disability led to his early retirement. The Peñas find their close proximity to the facilities at Lack-land Air Force Base convenient, according to Mary. “I love my apartment here,” Mary says. “I’ve got walk-in closets, and my kitchen is great.” “It’s like a family room,” says daughter Anna Marie. “We rent movies all the time. We can cook and talk to each other at the same time.” “Just wait ‘till it’s warm; we’ll see flowers outside,” Mary says.

Mary and Enrique Peña are still happy 30 years after they met at Piggly Wiggly.

Winter 2002/2003 www.mercedhousingtexas.org Page 2

President’s Message

Merced’s friends may be familiar with the phrase, “Our residents are at the heart of everything we do.” During the holiday sea-son, the Adopt-A-Family program and holiday parties gave us the opportunity to be in close touch with residents. As we continue the Serve Our Seniors program, we are becoming

familiar with the Denver Heights and Nevada Street resi-dents, one home at a time. We were delighted at the support from many old and new friends during our year-end giving campaign. Citibank volun-teers warmed our hearts as they brightened the holiday sea-son for Merced residents. Property managers went the extra mile to coordinate holiday parties. Many of our associates surprised us with holiday gifts. Besides being at the heart of our mission, our relation-ships with residents make our work at Merced rewarding. Seeing the genuine compassion and generosity of supporters and volunteers buoys our confidence in the human spirit. We have the privilege of seeing two sides of the same coin — people reaching out in acts of generosity and the re-sults of that kindness. We know and we want you to know that every compassionate act does touch the life of another human being. You can and do make a difference.

Work is finished on the first house to be reha-bilitated under the Rehabilitation Initiative of San Antonio Program (RISA). In this partnership be-tween Merced and Fannie Mae, Merced’s role is to locate and acquire properties that need rehabilita-tion. Fannie Mae is lifting the construction burden by financing construction costs and by managing the rehabilitation process for Merced, including the marketing and sale of the home. When the house sells, all fees and repair costs will be deducted from the sales price. Net proceeds will be returned to Merced to support our ongoing mission to build and maintain healthy communities. The home at 1122 South Walters has three bedrooms, one bath, approximately 966 square feet, fenced yard and detached one-car garage. The asking price is $49,900. For information about buying this home, call Yolanda Pearson at 210/699-9545.

Merced Hires Rehab Specialist Merced recently acquired 60 years of construction exper-tise when Casimiro D. Briseño, or “CB,” came aboard as Re-habilitation Specialist. He will oversee the Serve Our Seniors repair work. Included in CB’s realm of experience are carpentry, sheet metal, roofing and remodeling. He had his own roofing com-pany, Custom Roofing, and he traveled the United States working with sheet metal for the civil service. “I also spent 36 months in Vietnam doing aviation sheet metal work,” he says with pride. He has worked with Sergio Vasquez Roofing and Remodeling for the last 17 years. CB, age 74, and his wife get up at 4:15 every morning and walk three miles. “I go to church on Saturdays so I can walk on Sundays,” he says. “I am amazed at his ability to estimate rehab projects,” says Merced Vice President Edgar T. Sandoval. Edgar calls CB a problem solver who has a broad knowledge of all aspects of construction, from electrical to plumbing to carpentry. “His experience with the design of older homes, even those from the turn of the century, is invaluable to us in our Serve Our Seniors rehabilitation work,” Edgar says.

Rehab Complete on First RISA Home

The first house rehabilitated under the Rehabilitation Initiative of San Antonio is at 1122 South Walters.

Merced Named Housing Pioneer The City of San Antonio recently presented the 2002 Housing Pioneer Award to Merced. According to HOME Coordinator Ivy Taylor, the city gives Housing Pioneer Awards to recognize the initiative, creativity and innovation of individuals and organizations that promote sustaining decent and affordable housing in the San Antonio commu-nity. Ivy says that “Pioneers” like Merced are identi-fied as demonstrating best practices, encouraging continuous improvement and developing additional resources to promote and assist affordable housing in the local community.

A new Activity Coordinator is in place at Merced’s Bellshire Apartments in Conroe, Texas. Glenn Coleman brings to Bell-shire a wide range of counseling experience and certifications, according to Community Director Linda Belk of Domicile Prop-erty Management, Inc. Glenn will begin by planning activities for people of all ages, church services and bible study. Start-ing a food bank is on his list of goals. He also will refer resi-dents to agencies that can provide them with needed services. “The most important thing is that he’ll be there when residents just need someone to talk to,” says Linda. “The residents are getting more and more excited. They’re seeing that some of the things we’ve been talking about will happen.”

Winter 2002/2003 www.mercedhousingtexas.org Page 3

Merced Housing Texas Founders

Congregation of Benedictine Sisters www.boernebenedictines.com

Congregation of Divine Providence

www.cdptexas.org

Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word www.ccvisanantonio.org

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul

www.daughters-of-charity.org

Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence www.mcdp.org

Sisters of the Holy Spirit

www.shsp.org

Associate Congregations

Congregation of St. Brigid

Daughters of Mary Immaculate www.archdiosa.org/vocation/fmi.html

Ursuline Nuns of San Antonio

FOR RENT

Casitas de Merced in Somerset, Texas

For residents age 55 and older

who meet income requirements

$25 application fee, $150 deposit

$320 per month rent

Office hours 9-5 MWF

Phone 830/429-3092

Merced began the Serve Our Seniors (SOS) Emergency Repair Pro-gram to make a difference in the lives of seniors, one at a time. The SOS program helps elderly homeowners in Bexar County, who as a result of illness, physical handicap or other misfortune are unable to maintain safe, sanitary and structurally sound homes. Our first SOS home belongs to Miss Rosa Mercado in the Denver Heights neighborhood. Before SOS, she had neither heat nor hot water in her home. A great many Bexar County seniors live in similar conditions, with serious health and safety concerns in their homes. Ruteen Jackson once could not walk down her back steps without fear of falling through them. Through the SOS Program, Merced built new back steps for her and her family, as well as replacing her back screen and the skirting around her house. So far, we have received $13,490.15 in support of the SOS program. We have repaired six homes and have received 22 applications for SOS assistance. We know that we have only scratched the surface of address-ing the need. For this reason, we are dedicating the proceeds of the 4th Annual Merced Golf Tournament to the SOS program. To learn more about the tournament and to reserve your sponsorship, see page 4.

Bellshire Hires Activity Coordinator

4th Golf Tourney to Benefit Serve Our Seniors

SOS recipient Ruteen Jackson lives with her daugh-ter, son-in-law and six grandchildren. They are Alex, Kara, Dara, Melissa, David and Jeremiah.

Winter 2002/2003 www.mercedhousingtexas.org Page 4

PLATINUM (TITLE) SPONSOR — $10,000 16 players, your company name as part of Tournament title, title recognition in thank-you ad, title recognition on Tourna-ment program cover, title recognition in Merced newsletter, title recognition in all media materials, hole sign on #1 and #10 tees GOLD SPONSOR — $5,000 12 players, logo placement in thank-you ad, recognition on Tournament program cover, recognition in Merced newsletter, recognition in all media materials, hole sign SILVER SPONSOR — $2,500 8 players, placement in thank-you ad, recognition in Tournament program, recognition in Merced newsletter, recognition in all media materials, hole sign BRONZE SPONSOR — $1,000 4 players, placement in thank-you ad, recognition in Tournament program, recognition in Merced newsletter, recognition in all media materials, hole sign SCOREBOARD SPONSOR — $350 sign on scoreboard at awards dinner, recognition in Tournament program DRIVING RANGE SPONSOR — $300 sign on the driving range, recognition in Tournament program PUTTING CONTEST SPONSOR — $300 sign at putting contest, recognition in Tournament program HOLE SPONSOR—$250 hole sign on course, recognition in Tournament program INDIVIDUAL PLAYER — $150 green fees, cart, buffet lunch, awards dinner following Tournament, drinks and snacks on the course, player goody bag

SPONSOR CONFIRMATION

Sponsor Level ____________________________ Name________________________________________________ Company_____________________________ Address________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ________________________________________________________________________________ Phone____________________ Fax____________________ E-Mail address______________________________ I cannot sponsor the golf tournament, but I would like to donate $_________ to Serve Our Seniors

Name as you want it represented on all Tournament notifications and signage (please print clearly)

To secure your sponsorship, please fax this page to 210/281-0238

and mail check payable to Merced Housing Texas to: 4th Annual Golf Tournament

Merced Housing Texas 212 West Laurel

San Antonio, Texas 78212 (Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent of the law.)

4th Annual Golf Tournament benefiting Serve Our Seniors Thursday, April 10, 2003

12:30 p.m. tee time at the Golf Club of Texas

Proceeds benefit Merced Housing Texas and its efforts to help elderly homeowners in Bexar County, who as a result of illness, physical handicap or other misfortune are unable to maintain safe, sanitary and structurally sound homes.

Winter 2002/2003 www.mercedhousingtexas.org Page 5

Thank You for Your Support Corporations and Foundations

Washington Mutual Foundation

USAA Federal Savings Bank

Frost Bank Business Advisory Board

Individuals

Lou Walters Caldwell in memory of Sprinkles and Bull

Susan R. Sheeran and Staff in memory of Myrna Edralin in memory of Sister Mary Ellen Quinn, SP in memory of Emilio Uriegas

Sister Margeta Krchnak, CDP

Gloria Muñoz

Edgar T. Sandoval

Robert E. Matthys Sister Bernice Trachta, CDP

Lucy and Jim Lane

Larry and Patty Semander

Sue Yip

Sister Eugenia A. Stell, CDP

Sister Rita Rose Bily, CDP

Sister Rose Marie Gallatin, CDP Arturo and Mary Chavez in honor of Susan R. Sheeran Carlos Madrid, Jr. in memory of Jesusita Galvan Debbie Sultemeier

Sister Beatrice Kainer, CDP in honor of Sister Mary Valdez, CDP Robert and Mary Marshall

Amber E. Alonso

Sister Mary Jane Bell, CDP in memory of Cecile Bell Mary A. Schaefer

Amy Hartman and John Roby in honor of Sister Carol Kottewitz

Frances V. Sheeran

Kendall Collier

Carol A. Fisch in honor of Margaret Howell

Lt. Col. James G. Henry in memory of Norma Henry

Dave Mullen

Sister Bette Bluhm, CCVI

Father John Suenram, OCD

Bill Montez

Serve Our Seniors

Clara Ruiz Engel in memory of Lupe Lara

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Toudouze

Sister Jo Marie Arredondo, SHF in memory of Cresencia and Juan H. Arredondo Sister Susan Mika, OSB in honor of the Benedictine Sisters Chris and Linda Follis

Mr. And Mrs. Clifton J. Bolner in honor of St. Joseph Sister Louise Delisi, CCVI in memory of her mother Lou Walters Caldwell

Marilyn Molloy, CDP

Daisy Anderson

Sister Rose Marie Uhlig, CDP

James Conquest

Gwendolyn B. Woodward

Brad and Lou Ann McMurray

Sister Adrienne M. Schmidtzinsky, CDP

Don’t expect new Merced intern Kevin Creagan to stay in San Antonio for many years, even though he may call the city his home base. El Salvador, Peru and Italy are among the places where he spent his youth. “I get antsy when I’m in one place for more than two years,” he says. Kevin speaks Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. “I just absorbed those languages as I grew up,” he says. He has a BS in Environmental Science from the College of William and Mary and has done graduate work in plant biology and geography at Louisiana State University. He is working toward a Masters in International Relations at St. Mary’s University. After his undergraduate school, Kevin volunteered with a non-profit environmental organization in Brazil. Between LSU and St. Mary’s, he did volunteer reconstruction in Honduras after the damage wrought by hurricane Mitch. He then worked for the Catholic Relief Services building partnerships between Catholic Dioceses in Texas and those in Honduras. “I observed people seeing new possibilities that renewed their energy and commitment,” he says. Kevin brings to Merced his ability to see situations from a variety of perspectives. He hopes to help Merced share ideas and form partnerships with other organizations that can help Merced achieve our mission. “I am not only a translator of languages but a cultural translator,” Kevin says.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM! Support our mission of providing quality, affordable, service-enriched housing for economically poor families, seniors, and persons with special needs.

YES! I am making a contribution to Merced Housing Texas:

$1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $35 $_____

My gift is for Serve Our Seniors in honor of __________________ in memory of ___________________ Acknowledge to __________________________________________________________________________________________

Name Address City/State/Zip Phone Fax E-Mail Address

Thank you for your generous contribution, which is tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

Our residents are at the heart of everything we do!

Winter 2002/2003 www.mercedhousingtexas.org Page 6

Mission Statement

Merced Housing Texas’ mission is to create and strengthen healthy communities through the provision of quality, affordable,

service-enriched housing for individuals and families who are economically poor.

Intern Brings Merced International Perspective

Intern Kevin Creagan and Resident Services Coordinator Letty Martinez work on the Serve Our Seniors Program.

Merced Board Member Profile (reprinted with permission from the National Alli-ance for the Mentally Ill of San Antonio newsletter) Have a broom, mop, furniture, sheets or dishes you’d be willing to donate to help a mentally ill per-son start a new home? Home Comforts, Inc., is a new corporation with two main purposes: 1. To help mentally ill people who are hospitalized

keep their household belongings by providing storage and transportation. Merced has agreed to provide some storage space on a temporary basis.

2. To help mentally ill people just moving into in-dependent housing to put together both furni-ture and supplies like soap, brooms, dishes, towels, etc.

Over the years, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has received many phone calls from people who have lost their few personal belongings to a board and care home or other landlord when they have been committed to the hospital and are unable to pay the rent. Other calls sound some-thing like, “My landlord is threatening to evict me because my apartment is dirty, but I don’t have any soap and I don’t have any money!” The state typically does not pay for any usual household furniture. The Center for Healthcare Ser-vices obtains some from other community groups, mainly San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries, but at most promises only a bed, table, two chairs, and a chest of drawers, and those only to people moving from “more restrictive environments.” At no time has it ever provided supplies such as brooms, mops, soap, sheets, dishes or pans. The furniture situation is particularly bad be-cause many donations have gone to help the flood victims, and the non-profits that usually carry furni-ture are almost out. Some mentally ill people have no family, and even among those who do, as fami-lies age it becomes difficult to provide physical la-bor, transportation and extra storage room. The new group is chartered as Home Comforts, Inc. The organizational meeting to adopt bylaws was held December 3, and Internal Revenue Service recognition is pending. If you can help, either by donations or by volun-teering time to help move, do mail-outs, or help with fundraising, call Patsy Cheyney at 736-6937 or Betty Lytle at 402-7359. Thanks for making some-one’s New Year a little brighter!

Winter 2002/2003 www.mercedhousingtexas.org Page 7

Former Mayor Serves Somerset

“I don’t like to toot my own horn,” says Merced Board member Paul Cuellar. The citizens of Somerset, Texas, might toot it for him. He served as mayor there from 1988 to 2000. Prior to that, he served on the City Council for nine years. When he left office, he retired; he was never de-feated in an election. Part of Paul’s legacy as mayor is a $1.25 million grant that enabled Somerset to build a multi-purpose center and a day-care center and to improve drain-age for the city. During his term in office, all but two streets in Somerset were reconstructed.

The mayor of Somerset is not paid. For twelve years, Paul freely gave about 15 hours a week to improve his town. These days, Paul makes a daily run from San Antonio to Somerset transporting meals for distribution to seniors in the Meals-on-Wheels program.

Volunteerism comes naturally to Paul. “My parents al-ways instilled in us that we were to help each other and those who needed help,” he says. His eight years in Catholic school taught by Franciscan priests and sisters also had a strong influence.

Working at USAA runs in the Cuellar family. Paul worked there for 33 years supervising the clerical staff. Two of Paul’s three sons work for the company, as well as his oldest son’s wife. “USAA has a big volunteer program,” he says. “They have a department that’s dedicated just to vol-unteerism for the community.” Paul’s supervisors supported him when he took time off from work to perform his mayoral duties, he says.

Why does Paul dedicate so much of his life to service? He says he feels a need to give back some of what he and his family have been given. “I’ve been very fortunate,” he says.

Paul became involved with Merced when he was mayor and was seeking a way to build housing for seniors in Som-erset. He learned that an organization of religious women had begun a program to build and acquire affordable hous-ing and was introduced to Merced. “Lo and behold, Casitas de Merced was built,” he says.

Home Comforts, Inc.

The Enterprise Foundation is sponsoring the San Antonio Community Leadership Institute to foster social change, neighborhood transformation and family strengthening. The interactive curriculum is designed to enhance leadership skills and community connections. Merced Resident Services Coordinator Letty Martinez is taking part in the institute. “It’s a great opportunity to be a part of a class that involves so many community organizations,” Letty says. “It feels good to be in a roomful of people who are passionate about what they do.”

Kudos

Rehabilitated through the RISA program — 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, approx. 966 square feet, fenced yard, detached 1-car garage, window AC units. $49,900.

Completely reconstructed. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, approx. 1,300 square feet. Ce-ramic tile throughout living area. Carpet in bedrooms. $85,000.

Merced Housing Texas Board of Directors

Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP, Chair Sister Rose Ann Aguilar, DC, Vice Chair

Amber E. Alonso, Esq. Sister Veronica S. Cahill, SHSp

Paul G. Cuellar Dr. Larry Hufford

Sister Carol Ann Jokerst, CCVI Sister Susan Mika, OSB

Sister Guadalupe Ramirez, MCDP Lisa A. Rodriguez

Staff Sister Jo Marie Arredondo, SHF

Bookkeeper Lou Walters Caldwell

Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Creagan

Intern Letty Martinez

Resident Services Coordinator Edgar T. Sandoval

Vice President Christine S. Sembera

Grants Assistant Susan R. Sheeran

President Sue Flynt Yip

Communications Manager

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 3431

San Antonio, Texas

Sign up now! Merced’s 4th Annual Golf Tournament is April 10.

212 West Laurel San Antonio, Texas 78212 210/281-0234 210/281-0238 fax www.mercedhousingtexas.org Return Service Requested

Single-Family For Sale

Merced’s single-family acquisition and rehabilitation programs are funded by the San Antonio Housing Trust, the San Antonio Area Foundation through the Gilbert and Ruth Lang Charitable Trust and the Fannie Mae Corporation. For further information, call Edgar T. Sandoval at 210/281-0234.

Former Coliseum Oaks Parade of Homes selection. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, central air and heat, one-car garage, approx. 1,066 square feet. $69,900. Down-payment assistance available.

1122 South Walters

3418 West Woodlawn

123 Fargo

Winter 2002/2003