My Nonprofit Reviews
Paul
Review for Mutual Housing California, Sacramento, CA, USA
Mutual Housing is a valued and crucial partner with Volunteers of America transitional housing programs. Mutual Housing provides Volunteers of America referred clients comfortable, well maintained, and properly managed apartment units. Mutual Housing and the Property Managers are very understanding of the issues of low-income households and do an amazing job of accommodating Volunteers of America clients. Any Volunteers of America client issues at an apartment are address in a respectful and timely manner. This allows for Volunteers of America staff to intervene to resolve issues.
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If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Increase funding to build more apartment units to provide more needed affordable and low-income housing for households in need.
How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
Review for Mutual Housing California, Sacramento, CA, USA
While in the Master of Social Work program at CSUS, I sought out enriching internship (aka field placement) opportunities in affordable housing. Through partnerships and great working relationships between CHOC, SMHA, and CSUS I was able to intern at SMHA even though there was no MSW or LCSW there. SMHA and CSUS were great in creating a supervision structure for me since I was eager to learn about community development. The Lead Community Organizers who did immediate supervision had Master degrees and provided a great wealth of knowledge. SMHA stresses the importance of developing relationships. Getting first hand experience in the mutual housing model gave me great perspective and confidence adding on to my knowledge of service enriched housing. SMHA is really great about reaching out to extremely culturally diverse populations.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
..running into a young resident at a market in South Sacramento years after I finished interning. This young lady was walking an elderly lady back to her apartment. The young lady let me know that she's now attending UC Davis and planning on attending medical school. I randomly ran into another SMHA resident while playing volleyball at a church. This individual is a senior in high school and planning on attending CSUS. Affordable housing and community development does work.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
A dedicated community organizer for sites larger than 100 units would benefit the residents and management. Additional housing developments serving various at risk or impoverished populations(ie people w/ mental illness, veterans, employed felons, etc), mixed income developments(FMR, 60%, 50%, 40% AMI), and mix use developments would be incredible. Developing social entrepreneurship opportunities could benefit residents and surrounding communities.
