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About MHI

Résumé of Mainstream Housing, Incorporated

Mission

The mission of Mainstream Housing, Inc. is to support quality, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.


Project History through June 2008

Mainstream Housing Inc. (MHI) emerged out of a desire to improve the quality of construction, design and livability of licensed group homes being built for people with developmental disabilities. The founding advocates included a contractor, architect, parent, a lawyer and a consultant at the University of Oregon. Together they worked to improve the design of the homes, as well as research the most appropriate building materials and appliances for the homes. As often as possible, the specific needs of the individual being served were taken into account as the home was designed. Parents were also invited to give input into the design.

Based upon this research and advocacy MHI was instrumental in developing more appropriate housing designs for people with developmental disabilities. As a result of this innovative design work, MHI was awarded a contract (In 1993) to develop 32 group homes for the State of Oregon's Mental Health Developmental Disabilities Service Division (MHDDSD). MHDDSD was legislatively mandated to close a large state institution for people with developmental disabilities (Fairview Training Center) and move residents into five-bedroom group homes in the community. These group homes range in size from three to five bedrooms and have been built or remodeled with special adaptations for use as residential care facilities for people with developmental disabilities. These group homes were completed In March of 2000, with the last 10 homes being built simultaneously between March 1999 and March 2000, demonstrating MHI's ability to manage several projects at once.

Once again, housing options for people with developmental disabilities are in transition. MHI focused on new project models including new construction and rehabilitation of multi-family rental units for very low-Income Individuals with disabilities. The State of Oregon Is looking to Mainstream Housing's expertise in developing new models of affordable housing with flexible supports to help the State develop guidelines for the use of millions of dollars generated by the sale of Fairview. Proceeds from the sale of Fairview Training Center will be used to develop a Housing Trust Fund that will be designated for people with developmental disabilities.


1993 - 2000

State of Oregon Mental Health Division
Community Integration Project (CIP III, CIP IV, CIP V)

MHI secured contracts to build homes for the Mental Health Developmental Disabilities Services Division (MHDDS). MHDDS was legislatively mandated to close a large state hospital (Fairview Training Center) and to move residents into five-bedroom group homes in the community. From 1990 to 2000 MHI built 32 group homes.

Fairview closed in March of 2000. Since then MHI has defined new project models to include new construction and rehabilitation of multi-family rental units, collaborating with existing non-profits to have affordable units set aside for people with disabilities. MHI continues to give technical assistance to families with down payment assistance to low-income purchasers through the Oregon Home of Your Own program, which is now administered by MHI.

Location and Number of MHI Group Homes:

  • Bend, OR: (1)

  • Lebanon, OR: (1)

  • Brooks, OR: (1)

  • Medford, OR: (1)

  • Coos Bay, OR (2)

  • Roseburg, OR: (1)

  • Creswell, OR: (1)

  • Salem, OR: (11)

  • Eugene, OR. (5)

  • Silverton, OR: (1)

  • Grants Pass, OR: (2)

  • Springfield, OR: (1)

  • Junction City, OR: (1)

  • Turner, OR: (1)

  • Keizer, OR: (2)


2000 - 2008

Mainstream Housing, Inc. has successfully defined four new projects with diversified funding sources. Our newest projects for individuals with developmental disabilities
Include:

  1. A six-unit apartment building in Gresham with support services.
    The On Your Own project is an affordable housing development that will serve one of the most vulnerable segments of the state's population: low-Income people with developmental disabilities. The project includes six new one-bedroom rental units and one rehabilitated two-bedroom single family home. The goal is to create a supportive community where each resident can maintain Independence In an efficient easy-to-maintain home. One of the units will be wheelchair accessible; the other five will be handicap adaptable. Rents will be at a level affordable to people with Incomes between 30 and 50% of area median.

  2. 10-unit apartment building in Eugene with one on-site resident manager.
    The Mainstream Apartments project consists of an existing 10-unit apartment complex in an urban neighborhood. The goal of the Mainstream Apartments project is to provide eight permanent, affordable rental units with support services for 8 Individuals with developmental disabilities. Nine units are service enriched and set aside for people with developmental disabilities. One of the units will be a ground floor unit made completely wheelchair accessible. One unit will be an exempt unit for the on-site manager.

  3. 26-unit apartment building in Springfield with on-site manager.
    This project (Aquarius Apartments) involved the acquisition and rehabilitation of an existing 26-unit apartment complex in an urban neighborhood in Springfield. 11 units are service-enriched for people with developmental disabilities and incomes at or below 30% of area median. Five of these units will be set-aside for people coming out of homelessness. 14 units will be for non-disabled renters with incomes at or below 60% of the area median, including the on-site manager. One unit will be for a supervised community services and recreational use, for a total of 26 units. These are all one and two bedroom units.

  4. 16-unit apartment complex in Cottage Grove. MHI recently purchased an existing 16-unit (all one bedrooms) apartment complex in Cottage Grove, Oregon with the intention of rehabilitation of all units. Six units will be set aside and service enriched for people with developmental disabilities and incomes at or below 30% of area median. The other ten units will be for non-disabled renters with incomes at or below 60% of the area median.

 

  1. Mainstream Housing Board of Directors

Carl Hultenberg, President
Carl began his banking career in 1966 iand is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Siuslaw Bank. He previously held positions as commercial lender, branch manager as well as managing Siuslaw Mortgage, the bank's mortgage division and their servicing department. Carl became involved with housing issues for developmentally disabled children/adults when he and his wife Barbara adopted their son Corey. He is familiar with programs for grants and loan programs offered by second market investors.

Cinda Gangle, Secretary
Cinda is a parent of a daughter with special needs. She has been actively involved with Lane County agencies that serve people with developmental disabilities since 1977 and continues with this effort since retiring from Lane County government in 2006. These agencies include The Arc of Lane County (board member, secretary, president, chair of the public speaking and family support committees, volunteer of the year for 1992), Easter Seal, United Way of Lane County (campaign coordinator for Lane County government, keynote speaker at UW Campaign Celebration in 1999, agency speaker on behalf of the Arc of Lane County) and The Arc of Oregon (volunteer of year for 1992). Cinda has been a Board member of Mainstream Housing Inc. since June of 2000 and has been vice-president, president and currently serves as Board secretary.

Since retiring, Cinda has continued her passion to help people with disabilities and educate the public by being a Volunteer-At-Large, giving her time primarily to Mainstream Housing, Inc. and The Arc of Lane County. Meeting regularly with MHI staff, she is reviewing and developing position descriptions and developing related business processes. These will eventually result in a Procedural Manual for all staff to utilize. In addition to MHI, she meets regularly with the staff of The Arc of Lane county and is developing office protocol for the reception area. Cinda also serves on the steering committees of two major fundraisers for The Arc of Lane County and participates in public speaking for The Arc as requested.

Sue Kesey, Treasurer
Sue is one of the founding Board members of Mainstream Housing Inc. She is a co-owner of Springfield Creamery. As a long-time member of the community, Sue has ties to a variety of community organizations and businesses. Her experience and expertise in business, both in the management and financial areas, enables her to offer quality guidance to Mainstream Housing.

Anne Williams,  Director
Director of Housing Development for St Vincent de Paul, in Lane County. Anne is instrumental in defining their development projects, getting them funded and managing the construction of the projects. Anne has vast experience in budgeting, grant writing and home ownership assistance through her work with St. Vincent de Paul. Her current focus is in the area of home ownership education, tenant empowerment and transition programs (i.e. HomeSpace Program for Homeless).

Ruth Morris, Director

Ruth is a representative of low-income developmentally disabled community and advocate from Eugene, Oregon. She is associated with People First of Oregon, and 2nd Vice President of People First of Oregon. She is on the Board of Arc of Oregon. She is also affiliated with Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities. Ruth is one of the low-income representatives for CHDO Funding Program with City of Eugene and the State of Oregon.

Rusty Hawkins, Director

Rusty joined the MHI Board in May 2006. He is a self-advocate and serves on a number of advisory committees. He is on the Community Advisory Council (CAC) at the University of Oregon, co-leader of Full Access Brokerage Advisory Board and a member of People First. Rusty volunteers at The Arc of Lane County and works for Lane Community College. He is one of MHI's low-income representatives for the CHDO Funding Program with the City of Eugene and the State of Oregon.

Judy McCartney, Director

Judy joined our Board in May 2008. She has worked in special education for the disabled at the University of Oregon. Judy has spoken with the Ways and Means Committee in Oregon on behalf of ShelterCare, a non-profit organization that helps the homeless, people with disabilities and housing. She has also worked with ShelterCare to interview people and help them find housing. Judy has been an advocate for the homeless and has represented them for over 11 years. She also has two nephews with disabilities that are in specialized housing. She is one of MHI's low-income representatives for the CHDO Funding Program with the City of Eugene and the State of Oregon.


Mainstream Housing Staff

Executive Director:  Peter Matt Fadich was hired by MHI in June 2005. Mr. Fadich previously held a position as Energy Director for HopeSource, a Community Action Program serving low-income households in Ellensberg, WA. He brings experience in affordable housing and expertise and leadership in asset and project management. In his previous position, Mr. Fadich directed an energy assistance program and was responsible for expanding the program, raising funds, and managing all components of its implementation.

Executive  Assistant:  Joyce Purvis, has been on staff since 1997. Prior to joining Mainstream Housing, she worked in banking, investments and manufacturing and has working knowledge of accounting, personnel and payroll procedures and secretarial/administrative duties.  Joyce also provides support to MHI’s grant writing activities.

Project Manager:  Lori Love has been at MHI  since April, 2004. Prior to joining Mainstream Housing, Lori worked as an on-site property manager and ran a small business.  She is knowledgeable in tenant and landlord rules and regulations and brings experience in on-site property management, business management, and tenant/landlord relationships.  Her duties have expanded into project management. Lori has responsibility for our 32 CIP group homes and oversees maintenance and repair in collaboration with the State of Oregon. She is currently in charge of the rehabilitation of MHI's new project (Applegate Apartments) of an existing 16-unit apartment complex.

Property Manager: Dannette Gwin took over Property Manager duties in July 2008. She is also our on-site manager for the Aquarius Apartments complex. She previously worked in property management for rental properties, including light maintenance and cleaning. Dannette was also an escrow officer/manager for a real estate office. Duties included processing escrow, interacting with sellers, buyers, real estate personnal, lenders and government agencies. She did extensive public relations and supervision of personnel, bookkeeping, accounting and computer work.

Resident Services Coordinator:  Megan Entwistle joined MHI's staff in July 2008 to assume the duties of Resident Services Coordinator for our apartment complexes. She relocated to Eugene from Mesa, Arizona where she worked as a VISTA supervisor for the New Leaf Program. Megan also worked as a Behavioral Health Paraprofessional at a youth center, as a Shelter Advocate for Community Alliance Against Family Abuse, and as a Education Services Associate for Americorps* VISTA. Her experience includes community development and outreach, fundraising, advocacy, volunteer recruitment and management in the fields of health and environment.

HomeSpace Advocate:  Ernestine (Ernie) Mackey was hired on July 1, 2007 to administer the HomeSpace program which is a collaborative project with Lane County Human Services Commission, St. Vincent de Paul Society and Lane County Developmental Disabilities Services. Ernie is a graduate of the U of O wit with studies in sociology and psych counseling. She previously worked at Lane County DD Services for over 19 years. She also worked with the South Lane School District as a counselor in special education.

 
 

Contact MHI at info@mhihomes.org 
Copyright 2002-2005 Last update: 07/31/2008
   

180 E. 18th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401-4160|  (541) 484-4868  |  (541) 686-5598 (FAX)
www.mainstreamhousing.org