Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut, Inc.

Street Address:
63 Stillwater Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902


Phone: 203-359-6940
Fax: 203-327-9794
Website: www.mhaswct.org

Larry Kluetsch, Executive Director

Contact Name: Gregory Dunn
Phone: 203-672-0225
Fax:
Email: greg@mhaswct.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 16 

Background
Founded in 1990, the Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut, Inc. (MHASWCT) is a diversified 501©(3) nonprofit housing development corporation serving Fairfield County, Connecticut – one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. MHASWCT is a community based organization with a Board of Directors comprised of neighborhood residents, nonprofit agencies, corporate leaders and public sectors representatives who share a common objective to increase affordable housing opportunities and revitalize neighborhoods. As a “Mutual Housing Association”, MHASWCT’s origins were in the development of large-scale, resident controlled rental communities. From 1991 to 1998, MHASWCT developed four such communities in Stamford and Bridgeport. Beginning in 1999, MHASWCT adopted a strategy to develop a more diverse range of housing options and completed mergers with two nonprofit loans funds in Bridgeport and Norwalk. These activities and the development of an in-house property management and real estate brokerage evolved MHASWCT from a single-mission Mutual Housing Association into a cdiversified housing and community development corporation with a regional scope of operations. Since it’s founding MHASWCT has provided 462 units of affordable housing in Fairfield County. Currently, MHASWCT has 244 units of affordable housing in development representing over $60 million in community investments.

Mission
MHA's misson is to create housing solutions that change lives, revitalize neighborhoods, and improve the quality of life for low and moderte-income people in Fairfield County.

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $2,957,979

 Lines of Business
  • Asset and Property Management

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management

  • Real Estate Development


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership
  • NeighborWorks Multifamily Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 29 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 73 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 0 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 419 rental units.
  • Invested $ in the community through Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut, Inc.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $2,939,855 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $2,939,855.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    6/23/2006 Collaboration with the Stamford Housing Authority to train 50 families and provide up to 19 new homebuyers with $45,000 in down payment assistance.
    11/7/2007 Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for Merton House in Bridgeport. A partnership with Catholic Charities to create 22 units of supportive housing in Bridgeport.
    10/27/2006 Huntington Place, our first 40 units of affordable senior rental housing located in Trumbull, CT
    2/10/2007 33 Yale Street - Center for Woman and Families Housing providing 3 units of affordable supportive housing located in Bridgeport, CT
    5/1/2007 Conger House and Center for Woman and Families Housing providing 11 units of supportive housing, located in Bridgeport, CT
    11/7/2007 Opening of 24 Fairfield Avenue, 6 units of supportive rental housing
    4/9/2008 Manages 11 properties with 409 units located in Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford
    4/9/2008 Provided over 145 clients with homebuyers education and financial counseling
    4/9/2008 Rehabiltated or repaired 8 owner occupied households totaling $137,000
    6/6/2009 Opening of Greenfield Commons, 10 units of Senior Housing located in Fairfield, CT
    6/1/2009 Groundbreaking for Friendship House, 121 units of affordable housing in Stamford, CT
    6/30/2009 449 Households received Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Assistance during FY08-09.

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Community Planning

  •  Neighborhood / Resident Crime Watch

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Training

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Housing for Elderly

  •  Housing for Handicapped

  •  Housing for Homeless

  •  Rental Housing

  •  Section 8 Housing


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Christine AbrahamBoard MemberResidentFamily & Children's 
    Naola B AdairBoard Member  
    Sanford AndersonBoard MemberLocal GovernmentGreenwich Fire DepartmentFire Chief
    Larry BentleyBoard Member At LargeBusinessPatriot National Bank 
    Carol DavisBoard SecretaryOtherRetired Planner 
    Lynn HaigBoard Member At LargeLocal GovernmentCity of BridgeportCity Planner
    Reginald JohnsonBoard MemberResidentWriter 
    Debbie JoynerBoard MemberResidentTowers Perrin 
    Virginia MaizeBoard MemberResident  
    Gloria MorganBoard MemberResidentStamford Academy 
    Sylvan PomerantzBoard MemberOther  
    Samuel J RobertsBoard PresidentBusinessPitney Bowes 
    Ann RobinsonBoard MemberNon-Profit InstitutionCommunity Capital FundExecutive Director
    Carolyn WelhousBoard MemberResidentUS Post Office 
    Michael WiederlightBoard Member At LargeBusinessThe Insurance Exchange 
    Patricia WilliamsBoard Vice PresidentResidentAllstate Insurance 
    Samone WrightBoard MemberResidentHabitat for Humanity 

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

    NeighborWorks ® America Contact Information
    District:  New England
    Name:  Frances Cinicola
    Phone:  617-585-5027
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  617-450-0427
    Email:  fcinicola@nw.org