Mercy Housing is excited to have the opportunity to continue its revitalization efforts in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. A $70,000 grant from the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation will provide funding for two primary efforts – development of a second phase of New Tacoma Senior Apartments and implementation of our Community Health Worker pilot project.

MHNW has been a catalyst for revitalization of the Hilltop for over a decade, opening Eliza McCabe and Hillside Gardens in 2003. Our efforts continued with the rehabilitation of Catalina Apartments in 2007 and construction of New Tacoma Senior Apartments in 2011. Now in pre-development, New Tacoma Phase 2 will add 40 additional one-bedroom apartments to New Tacoma Senior Apartments and will include eight apartments reserved for homeless seniors.

The Chase grant will also support efforts to bring a community health worker initiative to the Hilltop. Residents will be trained to serve their community as peer advocates promoting health education. We are working with the Tacoma Housing Authority and Community Health Education Foundation and other active groups on the Hilltop to bring such a program into operation.