Catholic Health Initiatives Makes Major Gift to Support Affordable Housing in t...(tinue to provide affordablehousing with ...),Health

Catholic Health Initiatives' gift to Mercy Housing comes at a crucial time. The economic downturn and continuing challenges in the financial markets make it difficult for nonprofit organizations such as Mercy Housing to fund upgrades for housing units while still addressing the huge and growing demand for affordable housing.

Mercy Housing has already been preparing for how best to use the gift and will begin implementing plans to complete necessary rehabilitation and maintenance work at its seven properties in Nebraska and one property in Council Bluffs, Iowa. These rental communities are home to more than 1,800 adults, children and seniors who make an average annual income of $20,453. All of the properties are at a point in their lifecycles when they need significant improvements. Each property has different needs, but work may include new windows and doors, modernized bathrooms and kitchens, and new sidewalks and walkways.

Catholic Health Initiatives, with hospitals and health care services in Grand Island, Kearney, Lincoln, Nebraska City and Omaha, Neb. and Council Bluffs and Corning, Iowa, has a long tradition of supporting health and human services efforts in the region. In addition to the $6 million gift to Mercy Housing, Catholic Health Initiatives has contributed to a number of health improvement efforts through its Mission and Ministry Fund.

Since its inception, the CHI Mission and Ministry Fund has awarded approximately $2.3 million to communities in Nebraska to support health and related programs such as:

-- community assisted parenting, led by St. Mary's Community Hospital

in Nebraska City

-- a nutrition, fitness and obesity prevention program sponsored by the

Saint Elizabeth Foundation in Lincoln