As COVID-19 began spreading across the country, our lives fundamentally changed.

Residents of Mercy Housing Northwest weren’t immune to these new complications.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, MHNW has been committed to supporting residents and the pandemic was no different. We adjusted our services and programming while supporting residents to cope with the dramatic changes to work, school, and home life. Staff initially focused on supporting residents through wellness checks, accessing needs such as food, and trying to help people cope with fear and anxiety.

Mercy Housing committed to not evicting residents for non-payment of rent during the pandemic. We introduced policies around rent leniency and created a COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. Site staff worked collaboratively to help residents address existing and unexpected needs, including accessing state and local emergency rental assistance.

Beyond housing stability, our Resident Services team members also provide services and programming focused on financial stability that includes job search assistance, resume and job interview preparation. Following the pandemic, Amy Wesley, Resident Services Coordinator at Mercy Magnuson Place in Northwest Seattle, launched an initiative to build awareness about rental insurance. Speaking with residents, she noticed there was a general misconception among the community  regarding rental insurance. Wanting to help residents protect their property, Amy created a presentation focused on the benefits of rental insurance and shared it with the community.

Following the presentation, Amy reported that several residents had signed up for rental insurance. As a result of this successful program, Mercy Housing Northwest communities in Lynnwood and Tacoma have plans to host their own rental insurance presentations.

Amy says, “Residents express genuine gratefulness for the help. This is their home. We want to keep them housed, thriving, and protected.”